142 ^ INSESSORES. MUSCICAPA. Flycatcher. 



ings ; and I have frequently met with it situated upon the 

 ledge of a rock in our northern woody dells. It lays four or 

 five eggs, of a greyish-white, spotted with pale orange-co- 

 loured brown. After its young have quitted the nest, it 

 conducts them to some neighbouring wood or plantation, 

 Food. where they are very diligently attended and fed. 



It seems to feed entirely on insects, chiefly of the Dipte- 

 rous order, which are taken on the wing, by repeated sorties 

 upon them, in passing, from its selected station, which is 

 usually the top of a decayed branch, and to which it returns 

 after each of these aerial attacks. It has been stated by 

 Pennant, and other authors, to be very partial to cherries, 

 but this I have not been able to verify ; and I am inclined 

 to beheve, that the Greater Pettychaps (Sylvia hortensis), a 

 keen devourer of all the smaller fruits, has, in most instances, 

 been mistaken for the present bird. The note of the Fly- 

 catcher is a monotonous weak chirp, and is not often heard 

 till after the production of its young. 



It seldom leaves the northern parts of Britain on its au- 

 tumnal journey before the middle of October, and long after 

 the departure of most of the Sylviadae. Its summer or po- 

 lar migration extends as far as Sweden and Norway. In 

 Scotland it is of rare occurrence. 



General Pi- ATE 43*. Fig. 1. Natural size. Form typical. 



descrip- Upper parts of the body light hair-brown ; the crown of 



the head spotted darker. Throat and middle of the 

 belly white. Sides of the neck, breast, and flanks, 

 streaked with hair-brown. Bill and legs dark hair- 

 brown. 

 The yovmg, in their nestling (or first) plumage, have the 

 feathers tipped with a spot of yellowish-white, giving 

 them a pretty mottled appearance. 



