272 THE FLYCATCHERS 



and most other species, it is very faithful to its old habitat, and on 

 migration hurries over large tracts of country which appear to be 

 equally suitable as breeding-places, in order that it may reach its 

 ancestral summer home. 



Though a much greater lover of the wild than its relative, never- 

 theless the pied-flycatcher may be attracted to gardens and induced 

 to inhabit nesting-boxes ; while a pair has been recorded by Mr. Oxley 

 Grabham as nesting " within the boundaries of the city of York ; and 

 another pair brought off' their young in the heart of Scarborough." * 



This species is one of the most charming and attractive of our 

 summer migrants. The cock birds arrive some days before the hens, 

 and.-spend'the interval in practising their vivacious little song. The 

 black and white plumage of the male renders him a conspicuous 

 object; he is not at all shy, and seldom resents human intrusion, 

 therefore it is always a pleasure to watch his sprightly ways ; while his 

 large brilliant eye gives him additional charm. He always looks keen 

 and full of the joy of life ; possessing also that well-groomed appear- 

 ance which is common to all pied birds. When poised ready to 

 make a fatal dash upon his prey, there is the little downward droop 

 of the tail so characteristic of his soberer cousin, and the low crouch- 

 ing attitude common to both, which gives one the idea sometimes that 

 flycatchers are very short in the leg. But no birds can look more 

 alert and graceful when they choose ; this crouching attitude is like 

 the bending of a bow before the arrow is sped. Robins and some 

 other birds which dart suddenly upon their prey often gather them- 

 selves together in the same way before the final spring and " throw 

 off" with their feet. 



In many of their habits pied-flycatchers closely resemble robins 

 and redstarts, for while the spotted-flycatcher seldom if ever seeks its 

 prey upon the ground, the pied frequently drops down from a con- 

 siderable height, picks off an insect from the herbage, and retires 

 with it to his former post. He is not quite so expert as his cousin in 



1 Country Life, p. 242, February 1910. 



