142 THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



The song of the Pied Flycatcher is short and little varied, but 

 decidedly pleasing; it is commonly uttered from the branch of a tree, 

 but sometimes when the bird is on the wing. The alarm, which is 

 frequently repeated when any intruder approaches the nest, is said to 

 resemble the word chuck. 



The food of this bird consists almost entirely of smafl flies, hence 

 both its English and scientific names, the latter being derived from 

 the Latin words, musca a fly, and capio to catch or take; luctuosa, 

 mourning or sorrowful, is added thereto to indicate its peculiarly sad 

 and melancholy appearance, as it stands on the branch of a bush or 

 tree on the look out for passing insects. 



The adult male is about five inches in length, and weighs a little 

 more than three drachms. The bill, feet, and claws are black; the 

 irides hazel. The head is black on the crown, and has a patch of 

 white on the forehead; the head, nape, and back are black; the chin, 

 throat, and breast white, tinged with yellowish brown on the sides. 

 The wings are brownish black, some of the feathers edged and 

 patched with white; the tail also brownish black, partly edged with 

 white. The female is a little smaller, and without the white mark on 

 the forehead; the upper parts are rather browner than those of the 

 male, and the breast is a duller white. 



THE SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, 



(Muscicapa grisola.) 

 PLATE IX. FIGURE II. 



THIS bird does not arrive in England until the middle or end of 

 May, and is therefore one of the latest of our summer visitors. It is 

 common in nearly all parts of the country, but particularly abundant 

 in the southern and midland districts. In Wales and Ireland it is 

 also plentiful, but in Scotland is rather rare. It is distributed over 

 the European Continent as far north as Norway and Sweden, and it 

 is also found in southern and western Africa. 



In gardens, orchards, woods, plantations, and shrubberies, this small 

 and rather insignificant-looking bird may frequently be seen perched 

 on the extreme end of a branch, or the top of a post or rail, with a 

 general air of listlessness or dejection, but no sooner does an insect 

 come within range than he shows he is awake and vigilant, by the 



