MUSCICAI'IK.K. 



MUSC1CAPID.K. 



r-t 



the Welsh ; Spoltnl Klycntohcr and (provincial) Beain-Bird, Rafter, 

 Port-Bird, Ac., of the British. 



Spotted Flycatcher (Uuxlcapa yn'Wo). 



The Spotted Flycatcher, one of the latent of our summer visitants, 

 rarely arrives in these inlands before the latter port of May, when its 

 insect food, which consists principally of flies and other dipterous 

 iiuectn, abounds. It* mode of capturing them is well described by 

 White in the passage quoted at the commencement of this article, 

 Temminck says that it rarely eats caterpillars and ants. Pennant 

 statea that it U very fond of cherries ; but Mr. Selby says that he has 

 not been able to verify this, and that he is inclined to believe that 

 the Greater Pettychaps (Sylvia hortenrit), a keen devourer of all the 

 mailer fruiU, has in most instances been mistaken for the present 

 bird. The same author tells us that it is of rare occurrence in Scot- 

 land. Mr. Gould says that it is found throughout England and a 

 portion of Scotland, wherever there exists a locality suitable to its 

 economy. It quit* us in September and October, having bred and 

 brought up its young here. M. Temminck says that it is spread in 

 Europe as far as Sweden, and that it is found in the temperate 

 provinces of Russia ; but that it is rare in Holland. Mr. Selby states 

 that it* summer or polar migration extends as far as Sweden and 

 Norway. Prince Bonaparte (' Specchio Camparativo ') notes it M rare 

 in the summer Dear Rome; and as found in Europe generally. 

 ('Geographical and Comparative List'). Mr. Gould says, "The 

 Spotted Flycatcher appear* to enjoy a wide range over the continent 

 of Europe, being generally dispersed from the border of the Arctic 

 Circle to iU moot southern boundary ; and we have also frequently 

 observed it among collections from India," The nest, loosely con- 

 structed of moss, fibres, catkins of the hazel, or small twigs lined with 

 straw and wool or hair and feathers, is often placed upon the jutting 

 ends of beams and rafters in tool-houses, or other garden or farm 

 building*, whence it* name of Beam-Bird. The four or five eggs are 

 grayinh-white, with pale orange-brown spots. When the young are 

 able to leave the nest, the parents lead them to some place where 

 insect* abound. There the young soon learn to capture their prey 

 after the manner of the old birds. 



The sexes are alike in plumage. The young, for a short time after 

 they begin to fly, have the feathers tipped with yellowish-white, which 

 give* them a mottled appearance. The chirp of this Flycatcher, it* 

 only note, U weak. 



M. atricapUla, Gobe-Mouche Bec-Figue of the French, M. lucluota 

 of Temminck, the Pied Flycatcher. Male with the upper parts black ; 

 part of the forehead, a patch on the wing, and the outer web of the 

 two outer tail-feather* on each side, as well as the lower part*, white. 

 Female and young grayish-brown above, brownish-white beneath, 



Thu bird is a visitor of the British Islands, but is not so numerous 

 a* the last It arrives from the middle of April to the beginning of 

 May, and depart! in September. The eggs are five or six, pale, 

 *<J-12ths of an inch long, and rather more than half an inch in 

 breadth. It builds in the holes of decayed oaks or pollard-tree*. 

 Mr. Hevsham, as quoted by Mr. Yarrell, says, "In the season of 1830, 

 a pair bad a next in the identical hole where this specie* bad bred for 

 four successive years. On the 14th of May this nest contained eight 



r arranged in the following manner : one lay at the bottom, and 

 remainder were all placed perpendicularly round the side* of the 

 ne*t with tho smaller end* resting upon it; the effect of which was 

 exceedingly beautiful." 



Eurj/laimincf. 

 Size large. Structure powerful. BUI short, excessively broad ; tho 



upper mandible convex above, dilated at it* base, and the margins 

 folding over those of the upper mandible ; the tip abruptly hooked. 

 Wings rather short. Feet strong, moderate. The outer toe connected for 

 half it* length to the middle toe; hinder toe long; inner toe shortest 



Mr. Swainson, who gives tlii* as the character of the sub-family, 

 observes that the Sturytaimince are the most remarkable birds of the 

 whole family ; the species are very few, and their geographical limits 

 seem to be restricted to the hottest parts of India, where they inhabit 

 the forests. "In size," continues Mr. Swainson, "they exceed all 

 others, save the genus Querula, in this family, being about the size of 

 starlings, while the enormous breadth of their bills and the peculiar 

 brightness of their colouring render it impossible for the student to 

 mistake tliem for any other genus. The bill is not only excessively 

 broad, but the margins of the base are so dilated that they often 

 project over those of the lower mandible, whilst its substance seems 

 much more solid than in the ordinary flycatchers. Although very 

 few species have hitherto been discovered, it is quite clear that the 

 five leading types have come to light, although only one example of 

 the genera Serilophiu, ftaritoma, and J'lalyitoma are yet known. It 

 may be here observed that notwithstanding the great width of the I. ill 

 in all these birds, it is nevertheless much more convex above, ami in 

 some instances is even more raised on the oilmen than any of the 

 others ; the feet also and the whole structure of the body are more 

 robust Hence, although tho width of the mouth and the great size 

 of the bead would indicate this to be the pre-eminent typical group, 

 yet all the other characters would place it as the typical. Serilophtu 

 is evidently the rasorial or crested type ; and it depart* considerably 

 from the others by the only species yet known being very fond of 

 fruits ; this is in conformity with the strong and remarkable analogy 

 it shows, even in its outward appearance, to the wax-winged chatterers 

 (Koinbycilla)." 



The genera given by Mr. Swainson in the ' Synopsis ' are Eury- 

 laimut, Horsf. ; Cymlirhynchiu, Vig. ; Platyttomut, Sw. (both of which 

 are placed by M. Lesson in his genus EroUa) ; Ptariiomut, Sw. ; and 

 Serilophui, Sw. Mr. Swainson considers Eurylaimtu to be the pre- 

 eminent type ; Cymbirhynchut the sub-typical type ; Platyttomut the 

 fissirostral type; and Serilophut the rasorial type; by which last 

 and Mrgalophus regiiu he considers that the Eurylaitiiintr and 

 Miucicapintc are united. 



Eurylaimtu.-K.il broader than the head ; under mandible very 

 thin, particularly at the base. Nostrils basal, transverse, oval ; tho 

 aperture naked. Frst quill slightly, second almost imperceptibly 

 graduated. Tail short, rounded. 



E. Jarauicui (E. Hortjieltlii, Temm.). Entire length eight inches. 

 Head, aides of the neck, and the whole of the neck and body under- 

 neath violet, or rather vinous, varying in intensity. The part of the 

 forehead around the bill nearly black. Upper part of the neck brown, 

 darker towards tho back, where tho tint is sooty. Wings very deep 

 blackish-brown above, more intense near the shoulder, and lighter 

 towards the extremity. A yellow streak between the coverts and 

 secondary quills. Wings beneath from the axilltc to the shoulder 

 yellow, which borders the wing externally. Tail-coverts block at the 

 base and yellow at the tips, so that the rump appears yellow, which 

 is the colour at the vent Two intermediate tail-feathers black, four 

 next on each side black, with a white transverse band near tho 

 extremity. On the two external feathers the band is near tho 

 middle, and rather broader. Bill reddish-brown at tho base, with 

 both mandibles irregularly variegated, and striped towards tho 



a, bill of Kurylnimui Jacanieui, Men In profile ; li, ii-cn from above ; r, :iutc- 

 rior ton of the nine, to ihow their relative connexion. IloriHi Id. 



