SPOTTED FLYCATCIIEK. 7 



birds; they almost seem to have paired before their migration, 

 or if not/ at all events they do so at once when here. 



The nest, which is builb at the beginning of June, is 

 composed of various materials, such as small twigs, catkins, 

 and moss, lined with feathers, hair, down, and cobwebs. The 

 same situation is resorted to year after year, and scarce any 

 attempt is made at concealment. A pair, \vhich built in the 

 trellis-work close to the drawing-room window of a house I 

 once resided in, not being disturbed, returned there three 

 successive summers, and I hope that they or their descendants 

 do so still. A favourite resort is such a place, or a tree 

 trained against a wall, on account of the support afforded 

 bv it. Trees are also built in, ledges of rocks, holes in walls, 

 the exposed roots of trees over a bank, the side of a faggot 

 stack, or a beam in an out-building, whence, perhaps, another 

 of its provincial names the 'Beam Bird.' One pair made 

 their nest on the hinge of an out-house door in a village, 

 which people were continually passing and re-passing; another 

 couple placed theirs in a tree, immediately over an entrance- 

 door, which, whenever it was opened, caused them to fly off; 

 another pair on the angle of a lamp-post in Leeds; and 

 another on the ornamental crown of one in London. Another 

 pair placed theirs on the end of a garden rake; another in a 

 cage hung up in a tree, the door having been left open ; and 

 another in a stove, which seemed to be made 'too hot to 

 hold them' when the thermometer in the hothouse rose above 

 72, for the bird used then to quit the eggs, and only returned 

 to them again when it fell below that point, disliking, it 

 would seem, the 'patent incubator.' Two broods are not 

 uncommonly reared in the year; the first being hatched early 

 in June; but the second may be 6nly the consequence of the 

 lirst one having been destroyed. 



The eggs, four or five in number, are greyish or greenish 

 white, spotted with pale orange-coloured brown; in some the 

 broad end is blotted with grey red. After the young have 

 quitted the nest they are very sedulously attended by the 

 parents. 



The garb of this bird is singularly plain, sober, and un- 

 pretending. Male; length, about five inches and a half, or a 

 little over; bill, dusky, broad, flatted, and wide at the base 

 a ridge runs along the upper part; the under one is yel- 

 lowish at the base; iris, dark brown; a few bristles surround 

 the base of the bill. Head, brown; crown, spotted with darker; 



