THE PIED-FLYCATCHER 273 



catching insects on the wing, neither does he return HO regularly to 



till' saillr prrcll. 



The fomalfi is much more staid in demeanour and sober in ap- 

 pearance than her mate. The first time I ever saw a hen of this 

 species was at Hickling, on 1 7th May. She looked a tired dull little 

 bird, and was probably resting after migration ; now and again she 

 languidly picked insects from among the leaves of a small oak-tree, 

 and was quite inconspicuous but for the peculiar white markings on 

 the wings, which form a kind of V-shaped pattern across the otherwise 

 dull brown plumage. I once saw a male about the beginning of May 

 in the same neighbourhood. They formerly nested in the vicinity of 

 Horsey Mere, but are now only seen on the east coast during migration. 



The pied-flycatcher, unlike the spotted, has a spirited and in- 

 spiriting song, which he utters on all possible occasions. In no point 

 does he differ from his " mute" relative so absolutely as in the general 

 liveliness of his disposition. This song has been described by Mr. E. 

 A. Swainson as "resembling that of the redstart in duration and 

 frequency of utterance, but it is shriller and not so loud, and in its 

 pitch is nearer that of the hedge-sparrow ; the first three or four notes 

 i'-miM. id, spring M>HI: ol' tin- coal-tit. Tin- pusxaj^-s wliicli occur 

 oftenest are ' Ticln> itchee, chnrk chuck cheej and ' Cheety c/ieety checty 

 > ; " .' The alarm-notes of the two sexes are quite distinct ; that of the 

 male consists of two distinct notes, like the ' /// a tit ' of the male red- 

 start, while the note of the female is identical with the ' icit wit ' of the 

 chaffinch." 1 



On the advent of the hens the cocks vie with each other in vocal 

 powers, and fight vigorously. During the period of courtship, and 

 also when in full song, the emotion of the male bird shows itself in a 

 curious swaying movement of the tail. " They also search about for 

 nesting-places, and when they have found a likely one, remain on 

 guard and sing more than ever. If the particular bird that you 

 happen to be watching is fortunate, you will presently find him beside 



1 Zooloffiit, 1808, ix 420. 



