174 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



FLYCATCHKR AT NESTING HOLE. 



consists of moss, dry grass, and occa- 

 sionally leaves, and is lined with hair 

 and feathers. The same hole is fre- 

 quently used for several seasons in 

 succession. 



During May or June from five to 

 eight eggs of a pale blue or greenish- 

 blue, somewhat similar to those of the 



redstart, are laid. Occasionally they are 

 marked with small reddish brown spots. 



The Pied Flycatcher is not quite so 

 large as a redbreast, and the white patch 

 on the forehead of the male differs in 

 point of size in individuals. The female 

 does not possess it, and is otherwise less 

 distinctively marked than her mate. 



A noticeable feature in the behaviour 

 of the species is that if the female leaves 

 the nest her mate is very assiduous in 

 his attentions, feeding her upon cater- 

 pillars and other insects whilst they fly 

 from bough to bough and tree to tree, 

 but if she should delay her return to 

 the nesting hole too long he will en- 

 deavour to drive her back to her 

 duties. 



The individual figured in the head- 

 piece to this chapter grew very angry 

 because his consort was afraid to face 

 the ordeal of my camera, and repeatedly 

 attempted to exercise the authority of 

 his sex, but failed to induce her to 

 return until he literally bribed her by 

 flying down to the mouth of the hole 

 with a large caterpillar in his bill. 





