320



On Townsend's Flycatcher or Solitaire.



nowadays is as easy to obtain as canary seed, besides which, he

can do on good, insectivorous food. With me he became very

tame, and would eagerly seize a morsel of grape from my fingers.


When let out in the bird-room, he would pounce down—

hawk-like—upon a mealworm or cockroach, carry it up to his

watching-post, knock it well on the head against his perch, and

swallow it.



When he first came into my possession, his plumage was

decidedly “ shantantery ” (I think that describes it) but he

moulted splendidly, and being one who loves his matutinal dip,

was sleek and shiny, but the feathers are very soft and with

handling would easily be dislodged.


Sometimes—only sometimes—he sang, but I do not. suppose

that he ever sang his loudest and fullest. The notes were sweet,

very sweet, what few there were, but probably even when he

sings his best in his native land, they do not equal in brillaucy



