276 THE FLYCATCHERS 



brown to black, which circumstance has probably occasioned the 

 belief that the male changes his plumage and becomes like the female 

 in winter." 1 Young and old keep together in family parties, but shift 

 about from place to place, and when well on the wing they soon leave 

 our shores. I have seen them on the east coast during the second 

 week in September in company with wheatears, redstarts, and 

 spotted-flycatchers all waiting for a suitable moment to wing their 

 way south. They are less vivacious then, in contemplation of their 

 journey overseas, and family cares have toned down their exuberant 

 spirits, so that in general demeanour they are more akin to their more 

 serious relatives. 



One is loath to part with either of the flycatchers, for the unob- 

 trusive spotted is missed from the garden as only the quietly helpful 

 are missed ; while one sees all too little of the handsome, light-hearted 

 pied, during the short six months of their stay, and would fain 



" Bid them a moment linger, 



Nor fly 

 Too soon from winter's scowling eye." 



1 Gould, Birds of Great Britain. 



