WRYNECK FLYCATCHERS. 109 



it has shown near half the species that were ever known in Great 

 Britain.* 



On a retrospect, I observe that my long letter carries with it a 

 quaint and magisterial air, and is very sententious ; but when I 

 recollect that you requested stricture and anecdote, I hope you 

 will pardon the didactic manner for the sake of the information 

 it may happen to contain. 



LETTER XLI. To T. PENNANT, Esa. 



IT is matter of curious enquiry to trace out how those species of 



soft-billed birds, that continue with us the winter through, subsist 



during the dead months. The imbecility of birds seems not to 



be the only reason why they shun 



the rigour of our winters ; for the 



robust wryneck (so much resembling 



the hardy race of wood-peckers) 



migrates, while the feeble little 



golden-crowned wren, that shadow 



of a bird, braves our severest frosts 



without availing himself of houses 



or villages, to which most of our win- wryneck . 



ter birds crowd in distressful seasons, while this keeps aloof in 



annually and invariably visited the spot, curiosity prompted me to try an experiment, which left 

 the matter out of doubt. When an opportunity offered, I took the female, cut off the extremity 

 <''the upper mandible of the bill, and with a knife made several perspicuous marks ou its claws ; 

 this done, I set her at liberty. The succeeding spring the 

 same bird returned, with the distinguishing marks 1 had 

 given it, which was at once satisfactory and conclusive." 

 The following will show the attachment of the pied fly- 

 catcher of authors (though this bird should range in a 

 separate genus) to the place it has selected for nidifica- 

 lion, which fact came immediately under my own ob- 

 servation. A pair of this species took up their abode in a 

 garden near my residence, where, by the way, they ar- 

 rived so early as in the first week in April. Their first 

 nest was robbed by a boy, and another was soon built in 

 the same situation (against the ivied trunk of an old 

 poplar), and four eggs laid; these were destroyed by a snake; and a third nest was actually 

 constructed on the top of the last, which, with three eggs in it, and the broken egg-shells of the 

 last adhering to the bottom, was brought to me as a curiosity, and not a little to my dissatisfac- 

 tion. I had it replaced, as well as could be done, in about a couple of hours after it had been 

 removed, hoping that after all the female would perhaps sit ; but so much persecution had at 

 length driven the unfortunate pair from the place, and they were not seen afterwards. This 

 species is very rare in th* south of England, and was unknown to Mr. White. It moults it* 

 clothing plumage twice in thejyear. En. 



* The number of birds ascertained to have occurred in Britain is at present about 300. E. 



Pied Flycatcher. 



