THE PARADISE FLY-CATCHER. 119 



hand. The bird perches on some lofty branch, 

 and watches patiently till its prey shall appear in 

 sight. Presently some insect, perhaps a gorgeous 

 butterfly, or one of the numerous insects of the 

 forest, comes fluttering by. Then the Fly-catcher 

 makes a sudden swoop, and you hear, a moment 

 after, a sharp snap with its beak. You know then 

 that the poor insect is seized and devoured, and 

 the Tyrant is on the watch for another. Some- 

 times it will hunt on the branch for the beetles 

 or ants that may be crawling about, and pick 

 them off with its bill. 



It is not always content with its leafy home- of 

 bamboo. It will visit the gardens, and shrubberies, 

 and plantations, in search of prey ; and having 

 made a circuit, come back again. There are 

 numbers of Fly-catchers, of different names, and 

 wearing different costumes. 



In the Tropical parts of America they swarm 

 in great numbers, as the Sparrows do with us. 

 The trees are full of them, each bird intent on its 

 own business of darting after insects, and taking 

 little notice of its companions. At one season the 



