156 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



as remarked by the eminent Irish naturalist, 

 Thompson, is probably little known, except to 

 the observant ornithologist. Owing to the dul- 

 ness of its plumage, its want of song, and its 

 weak call being seldom heard, it is certainly one 

 of the least obtrusive of our birds; the trees, too, 

 having put forth their " leafy honours " before 

 the period of its arrival, further serve to screen 

 it from observation. It is one of the latest of 

 our summer migrants to arrive, seldom appear- 

 ing before the second week in May, and gene- 

 rally taking its departure during the first week 

 of September. It is found throughout the 

 British Islands, but is much less common in 

 Scotland. It has, however, been found breed- 

 ing as far north as Sutherland and Caithness. 

 The situation selected by this bird for its abode 

 during its stay with us is generally in the neigh- 

 bourhood of gardens and orchards, where it 

 takes up its quarters on a wall or fruit tree, and 

 sallies forth into the air after passing insects. 

 The name of Spotted Flycatcher is more appro- 

 priately bestowed upon the bird in its immature 



