ORDER PASSERES. 493 



Without pursuing the order of the text, we shall here notice 

 what is most remarkable in the different groups and species. 



Among the Flycatchers proper, The Spotted Flycatcher 

 (Grisola), arrives in France in spring ; inhabits forests, 

 orchards, &c., and prefers sheltered and shady haunts. It 

 subsists on winged insects which it seizes in its flight. Its life 

 is solitary ; it has a sombre melancholy air, expressive of a sort 

 of stupid inquietude ; but it flies lightly, and its general 

 movements are brisk. It seizes its prey by ai quick and sudden 

 turn, and rarely misses the insect which it marks as its victim. 

 Its favourite prey are the diptera and tetraptera ; but it sel- 

 dom attacks the coleopterous insects. According to Latham, 

 this flycatcher is also frugivorous, and destroys an immense 

 quantity of cherries. In Kent they call them cherry-suckers 

 from this circumstance. 



This species nestles indiscriminately in trees and bushes, and 

 most frequently in the hollows of trees and the holes of old 

 walls. It both constructs and conceals its nest equally ill ; 

 the materials which it employs are moss, fibres, hair, and 

 wool. The nvimber of its eggs is four or five, white, and 

 marked with reddish spots. The male and female partake 

 equally the cares of incubation. As any degree of cold which 

 banishes the winged insects, deprives these birds of the means 

 of subsistence, they depart for the south before the first 

 setting in of cold weather, and they are never seen in France 

 after the end of September, Aldrovandus, indeed, says that 

 they do not emigrate ; but this can only be understood as 

 referable to Italy, and other warmer climates. They are 

 numerous in the southern parts of Europe, but rare in the 

 north. According to Latham they are common enough in 

 southern Russia. 



The Muscicapa Azurou is found in the country of the Great 

 Namaquois. The cry of the male may be expressed by the 

 syllables, piet, piet, pieret, pieref: these birds build their 

 nest on the mimosas, construct it in a furcation, and attach it 



