262 CHATTERERS. 



its popular title. The Pied Fly-catcher is known to be a frequenter of many parts of 

 Europe, even visiting Norway and Sweden in the summer months, wliile on the coasts of the 

 Mediterranean it is very plentiful. It is a migratory bird, generally arriving in northern 

 countries about the middle of April, and leaving those for a warmer climate in September. 



The habits of tills bird, its mode of flight, and fly-devouring propensities, closely resemble 

 those of the preceding species, from which, however, it differs greatly in the locality of its 

 nest and the number of the eggs. Instead of placing a simply-constnicted nest upon a branch 

 or other convenient spot, the Pied Fly-catcher always chooses a hollow in some decaying tree 

 for its liome, and there deposits no less than seven or eight eggs. 



In one instance noticed by Mr. Yarrell, the eggs were disposed in a very curious manner. 

 "A pair had a nest in the identical hole where this species had bred for four successive 

 years. On the 16th of Maj', this nest contained eight eggs, arranged in the following man- 

 ner : one lay at the bottom, and the remainder were all severally placed perpendicularly round 

 the sides of the nest with the smaller end resting upon it, the effect of which was exceedingly 

 beautiful." The author of this well-observed note further remarks that the eggs from dif- 

 ferent nests are found to vary greatly in size. Tlie nest itself is made of dried leaves, moss, 

 and hair, and is rather loosely built, and the young make their appearance about the middle 

 of June. 



The coloring of this bird is as follows : In the adult male, the top of the head, back of the 

 neck, back, and wings are dark blackish-brown, with the exception of a white patch upon the 

 foi'ehead, and a broad stripe of white upon the tertiary and greater wing-coverts. The tail is 

 black except some bold white marks on some of the outer feathers, and the whole of the under 

 surface is pure white. The female is of a delicate brown on the upper parts of the body, and 

 those portions which in the male are pure white, are in the female of a dull whitish-gray. In 

 dimensions the bii'd is not equal to the spotted Fly-catcher, barely exceeding five inches in 

 total length. 



The singular and beautiful bird which is known by the name of King Todt, or Royal 

 Great Crest, is a native of Brazil, and may challenge competition with many of the fly-catchers 

 for elegance of form and beauty of coloring. 



It is a very rare bird, and to all appearance but little kno^\^I in its native land. This 

 species is chiefly remarkable for its splendid crest, which is capable of being lowered upon the 

 neck, or raised almost perpendicularly, in which latter position it assumes a spreading and 

 rounded form, lilve an open fan. The feathers of the crest are long and slender, and spoon- 

 shaped at their extremities. Each feather is bright chestnut-red for the greater part of its 

 length, a narrow stripe of rich orange succeeds, and the tip is velvet-black, encircled by a band 

 of steel-blue. As may be supposed, the effect of its spread crest is remarkably fine and striking. 

 The upper parts of the body are dark chestnut-brown, i-ather deeper on the quill-feathers of 

 the wings. The throat, chest, and abdomen are pale fawn, warming towards chestnut on the 

 central line. The total length of this bird is six inches and a half. 



CHATTERERS. 



The family of the Ampelid^, or Chatterers, is one of considerable size, and includes 

 some very beautiful and interesting birds. In all these species the beak is rather broad and 

 short, curved on the upper mandible, and well notched at the tip. The claws are sharp and 

 hooked, and are grooved underneath. Tlie Chatterers are found in all the warm portions of 

 the world, and even northern countries are sometimes favored by a visit from the typical 

 species, the Waxen Chatterer. They are divided into several groups or sub-families, the first 



