SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. 35 



with white ; outer webs of secondaries tipped with white, and 

 with several red sealingwax-like appendages (hence Waxwing). 

 Tail black, broadly tipped with yellow ; under parts rosy 

 brown, whiter on the belly ; under tail-coverts chestnut. Bill 

 and legs black. Length 1\ in. Female duller. Young browner, 

 and no black chin. 



Language. Usually rather silent ; it has a note not unlike 

 the Blue Tit's, thus: " cir-ir-ir-irre." 



Habits. Flight not unlike the Starling's. In its movements 

 and actions it reminds one of the Tits. 



Food. Insects, but fond of many kinds of berries, especially 

 mistletoe berries. 



Nidiftcation. Breeds in Northern Europe, &c. 



Family MUSCICAPID^E. 

 SPOTTED FLYCATCHEE (Muscicapa grisola). 



Migrant; May to September. Pretty common throughout 

 Great Britain ; rarer towards the north and in Scotland and 

 Ireland. 



Haunts. Gardens, margins of woods, &c. 



Plumage. Upper parts ashy brown. Wings and tail darker 

 brown, with paler margins ; under parts greyish white, marked 

 with elongated brown spots. Bill dark brown. Legs blackish. 

 Length 5 in. ; female similar ; young more spotted. 



Language. Song a faint utterance, composed of a few 

 rambling notes delivered in a sotto voce ; really a repetition, 

 more or less varied, of the call-note, which much resembles 

 the Eobin's. Alarm-note, "chick." 



Habits. Fond of perching on a post, rail, or wire-fence, and 

 making erratic little excursions therefrom to catch insects, 

 returning to same time after time a most distinctive habit. 

 Flight rapid and undulating. It returns year after year to the 

 same nesting site. 



Food. Insects almost entirely ; spiders, centipedes ; fruits, 

 and berries, sometimes. 



Nest. June onwards. Two broods, sometimes. 



Site. In cavity in tree or wall, on rafter of open shed, 

 amongst ivy, in evergreens or trained wall-fruit tree, and many 

 other similar situations. 



Materials. Small twigs, roots, grass, moss, and spider's 

 web ; lined with fine grass, rootlets, feathers, hair, and wool. 



Eggs Four to six. Bluish or greenish white, spotted and 

 blotched with reddish brown. Eather variable. 



