380 . DIVISION I. VEliTEBKAL ANIMALS. — CLASS II. AVES. 



The Spotted Flycatcher ( Mnsrivapa <jrisoIa) is widely distributed tlirough- 

 out Eiirojie ; ad\ aiiciiig' nurtiiwards in suuinier, and retiring sunthwards in 

 winter. 



Tliis Flycatelicr is retired in its haljits, frequenting cnihinvcred retreats, 

 shady gardens, orcharils, and groves, where the foliage affords it conceal- 

 ment ; "not that it is timid, for if it is not rudely disturbed, it will allow 

 itself to be closely watched during the performance of its aerial c\o!utions in 

 the pursuit <if its insect food. It generally chooses fir its perch and ubscr- 

 vatoiy the bough of a fruit tree, or one of the lower branches of the elm, or 

 other tree of tall growth ; whence it takes short, abrupt circling Hights, re- 

 turning to the same or an adjacent twig. 



"The nute of tliis bird is a weak chirp, which is seldom uttered after the 

 jiroduction of its young. The nest is built in dilferent situations, as con- 

 venience may dictate ; being fuund sometimes between the branches of a 

 trained fruit tree and the wall, or in holes of the wall, hidden by foliage. 

 It will also build in the holes of aged, gnarled trees, upon the ends of beams 

 in out-houses, and in other places of concealment. The eggs are fi\c in 

 number, of a grayish-white, marked with pale orange-brown s^iots. \\'hen 

 the young are able to ilv, the parents lead thcni to a branch of a tree, 

 and supply tlieni with food. They soon learn to follow the old ones 

 for the food, and then to catch their own prey, and become expert and 

 (piick in the pursuit. The color of this bird is ashy-brown abo\e, white 

 beneath." 



The Fan-tailed Flycatcher ( Jlii-scicapa JlubelliJ'cra) , a native of Xew Hol- 

 land, is a handsome bird. "It frequents," says ]Mr. Caley, "the small trees 

 and bushes, from which it darts suddenly iqion its prey of insects, spreading 

 out its tail like a fan, and to appearance turning over like a tumbler pigeon, 

 and then innnediately returning to the same twig or bough from which it 

 sjirang. These actions it repeats many times." General color brownish- 

 black ; stripe above, and spot behind the eye, white ; lateral tail-leathers 

 white. 



Fahily Pakid.!,. Titmice, Cijeepkrs, AVkens. 



This family comprehends several large and interesting groups, which are 

 characterzied as follows : — 



rARin.E. r iiHuIi luiiytr thriu tliL' iuner. Hallux ami its claw lar^e rF.r.TniN.!! 



e>utiT tot' ^ i' short, conic rAUiN-i:. 



i I ^Iciulcr, and more or loss suliu- 



C little or no lan^'i-r tliau iuuor. Bill •-. late; winjjs sliort and roimdcil, 



I with thi'^lirst priinarv more 

 L thauhalf as lou'' as the second. Tntif: 



LODYTIN.K. 



Of the Tro(j]oJijtina:, or Wrens, there are many well-known species scat- 

 tered over both hemispheres. They are small in size, and lively and familiar 

 in habits, many of them living in the neighborhood of human habitations. 



