268 INSECTIVOILE. 



exhausted that they are obliged to alight, and rest for some 

 time near the coasts, although they do not stop to nestle 

 there. But many migrant birds have resting-places, within 

 many miles of which not one nest is to be found. 



THE SPOTTED FLY-CATCHER ( Muscicapci grisolo). 



This is a larger bird than the other, softer in appearance, 

 less active in its manners, and having the bill less convex on 

 the upper part, and less hooked and notched at the tip. The 

 upper part is brown, rather redder on the shoulders, and with 

 a pale streak over the eye ; the top of the head darker 

 mottled; the quills and tail feathers very dark. The under 

 part brownish white, with dusky patches and shafts to the 

 feathers on the breast. It arrives late in the season, not till 

 near the end of May, and it departs towards the end of 

 September, but sooner or later, according as the season is 

 less or more favourable to the continuance of insects upon 

 the wing. 



It remains in the low districts, being most abundant in the 

 south of England, diminishing both northerly and inland, and 

 being rare in Scotland, if indeed it at all reaches that country. 

 It is a familiar bird, pursuing its labours close to the dwell- 

 ing of man, and even building in the shelter of outhouses. 

 But it is a very quiet little bird, as silent in its manners as 

 it is sober in its plumage ; and therefore it spends its labo- 

 rious summer in clearing the gardens and copses of flies, 

 unnoticed and unsought for. Its nest is formed of moss and 

 small fibres, lined with hair, wool, or feathers ; and the eggs, 

 which are bluish white spotted with red, are seldom more 

 than five. The nest is usually so placed as to be sheltered 

 from the weather, but it is not so studious of concealment 

 as the other species. It does not perch so much on those 

 trees that are covered with foliage as on stumps and posts, 

 which are not above the ordinary flight of the flies, and 



