313 INSESSORES. 



ground at the .bottom of a rivulet, then there is great reason to 

 hope that we, who are heavier than air, may, any day, rise up 

 into it, unassisted by artificial apparatus, such as wings, gas, 

 steam, or broom staff." 



THIRD FAMILY. FLY CATCHERS. 

 Muscicapida, (Lat. musca, a fly ; capio, I catch.) 



This very musical family, which receives its popular name 

 from the expertness of the birds which it comprises, in catching 

 the flying insects upon which they feed, is found widely diffused 

 throughout both the Eastern and Western Continents ; and in- 

 eludes many of the most beautiful of the feathered tribes. They 

 appear to be a connecting link between the Split-billed and 

 the Tooth-billed birds. Like the former, they have a beak 

 which is broad at the base, and hooked at the tip, while the 

 gape is surrounded with bristles ; like them, also, their feet are 

 unusually feeble, or less developed than the wings, and they feed 

 upon insects which they take in their flight. Indeed, they are the 

 most insectivorous of all the tooth-billed birds. In their generic 

 details, the Fly-Catchers widely differ; all, however, are united 

 by common peculiarities of structure ; and, particularly, by 

 having the beak strong, broad, flat, angular on the summit, or 

 culmen, and notched at the tip ; and by having the side of the 

 mouth defended by thick bristles. 



The European birds of this family, are sometimes called 

 " Restricted Fly-Catchers," having shorter bristles around the 

 mouth, and much more slender bills than the others. Of these 

 there are but two species, viz., M. grisola, the GRAY, or SPOT- 

 TED FLY-CATCHER, known by several provincial names, all 

 derived from its habits, as the " Beam Bird," from a favorite 

 site of its nest, and the "Cherry-chopper," from its supposed 

 taste for the fruit of that tree. In some portions of England, 

 it is called the "Post- bird," and in other parts, the "Bee- 

 bird." It is about six inches in length; its breast is of a dull- 

 ish white, slightly tinged with a dull orange, and the upper 

 part of the body is brown. It is a very tame bird, often build- 

 ing its nest in places where persons are constantly passing and 

 repassing, seeming particularly partial to the vine and sweet- 

 briar, as the support of its nest. The note of this Fly-Catcher 

 is a weak chirp, and even that is not often heard. 



The other European species, M. luctuosa, (Lat. sorrowful,) is 

 the Pied Fly-Catcher, about as large as a Linnet, found in 

 Prussia, Sweden, and sometimes in England. It has been called 



