24 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



rump, and browner 011 the wings ; the forehead, central coverts, outer borders of 

 secondaries, and under parts white ; bill and feet black ; iris dark brown. The 

 female differs from the male in the browner colouring of the upper parts, and all 

 the white areas with a buffish stain. The male after its autumn moult more nearly 

 approaches the female, inasmuch as the black colouring becomes brownish. Young" 

 in nestling plumage have the upper parts spotted with buff, and the under parts 

 with dark brown. 



The Pied Flycatcher arrives on our coasts towards the end of April, and the 

 first eggs may usually be obtained by about the middle of the following month, 

 although some pairs nidificate several weeks later. Unlike its relative the Spotted 

 Flycatcher, it always nests in a hole, either in a tree, a rock, wall, or bridge, 

 (especially when built over water) ; deserted nesting-holes of Woodpeckers or Tits 

 are sometimes utilized : it haunts groves of oak, beech, aspen, or chestnut, in 

 preference to dense wood ; although, according to Dixon, it may sometimes be met 

 with in the latter situation. Lord Lilford says that " the nest is generally situated 

 in the hole of a pollard, willow, or other tree, often in an old wall ; in fact, very 

 much in the sort of locality that we should look for a nest of the Common Red- 

 start." 



The nest is somewhat loosely constructed of dry bents, rootlets, and a little 

 moss ; the lining being formed of wool, feathers, and sometimes hair. The eggs 

 vary in number from four to eight, five to six being usual. As Lord Lilford 

 observes " Yarrell records an instance of eight in a nest, but, from my acquaintance 

 with this species in Spain, I should consider that number as very exceptional." 

 The colouring is always a very pale blue and unspotted, there is a slight variation 

 in depth of tint, but otherwise the only modifications in the eggs of this bird are 

 in size and outline, depending much upon the age and condition of health of the 

 parent bird. 



W. Warde Fowler in his charming " Summer Studies of Birds and Books," 

 gives a most delightful account of the Pied Flycatcher, which is well worth quoting 

 in full, if only space would permit ; but I must content myself with an extract : 

 " On the Continent I have always seen him in just such places as he loves in 

 Wales, among the larger timber of a Swiss mountain-side, or on the forest slopes 

 of the Taunus range. Just as the trout loves swiftly-running streams, or as the 

 Wood-wren is sure to be heard where the oak is the prevailing tree, so there are 

 certain spots which you instinctively feel that this bird oxight to have chosen for 

 his habitation, and if you are in the right district you may fairly lay a wager 

 that he will be found there. Such a spot, on the edge of the beech forests of 

 Wiesbaden, will always remain in very clear outline in my memory, for it was 



