ORDER PASSERES. 501 



The Black Flycatcher, which we call the English Flycatcher, 

 (M. AtricapiUa, Lath.) nestles in the hollow of a tree or on the 

 thickest branches. There is so great a general resemblance 

 between this bird and the collared flycatcher, which is the pied 

 flycatcher of our text, that it is not surprising that they have 

 been united by most ornithologists. But the collar is certainly 

 a very distinctive attribute, and by no means peculiar to the 

 aged males, as some naturalists pretend. In fact, it is not 

 only seen on them, but also on the young during the winter, 

 which would, otherwise, resemble the bird immediately under 

 our consideration. But this last exhibits at all times another 

 material difference, the first quill of the wing being shorter 

 than the fourth, or equal, while it is always longer than 

 the fourth in the collared or pied flycatcher. These two birds 

 also differ from each other in their disposition and cry. One 

 is distrustful and suffers itself to be approached with difficulty, 

 while the other is so little so, that one may come so near it as 

 to kill it with a stone. 



Though Bechstein seems to have been right in separating 

 these two birds, yet it is probable he was in error in consider- 

 ing the becafico as a different species. It is more likely that 

 it is a male of the black flycatcher, as the other is in its winter 

 clothing, or a female, or a young one. M. Vieillot had two 

 females exactly like the becafico. The male of the one had a 

 collar, that of the other none. An additional proof that the 

 becafico, is nothing more than one of these flycatchers, may be 

 found in Aldrovandus, who describes it a second time at the 

 moment of its metamorphosis when he says it was neither the 

 becafico, nor atricapilla, and he, therefore, called it the varied 

 becafico. 



The Collared or Pied Flycatcher, is, as we have mentioned, 

 distinguished chiefly by the collar. The winter plumage of the 

 male is the same as that of the female at all seasons, and the 

 female is destitute of the collar. A symptom of collar is often 

 seen on the young males, but very narrow. 



Vol. VI. 2 L 



