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TRAILL'S FLY-CATCHER. 



MvsciCAPA Traillii. 



PLATE XLV. Male. 



This is a species which, in its external appearance, is so closely allied 

 to the Wood Pewee, and the small Green-crested Fly-catcher, that the 

 most careful inspection is necessary to establish the real differences exist- 

 ing between these three species. Its notes, however, are perfectly dif- 

 ferent, as are, in some measure, its habits, as well as the districts in 

 which it resides. 



The notes of Traill's Fly-catcher consist of the sounds ivheet, xvheet, 

 which it articulates clearly while on wing. It resides in the skirts of the 

 woods along the prairie lands of the Arkansas river, where alone I have 

 been able to procure it. When leaving the top branches of a low tree, 

 this bird takes long flights, skimming in zigzag lines, passing close over 

 the tops of the tall grasses, snapping at and seizing different species of 

 winged insects, and returning to the same trees to alight. Its notes, I 

 observed, were uttered when on the point of leaving the branch. The 

 pair chased the insects as if acting in concert, and doubtless had a nest in 

 the immediate neighbourhood, although I was unable to discover it. It 

 being in the month of April, I suspected the female had not begun to lay. 

 Five of the eggs in the ovary were about the size of green pease. I could 

 not perceive any difference in the colouring of the plumage between the 

 sexes, and I have represented the male in that inchned and rather crouch- 

 ing attitude which I observed the bird always to assume when alighted. 



I have named this species after my learned friend Dr Thomas 

 Stewart Traill of Liverpool, in evidence of the gratitude which I 

 cherish towards that benevolent gentleman for all his kind attentions to 

 me. 



The Sweet Gum, on a branch of which I have placed TraiU's Fly- 

 catcher, grows in almost every portion of the western and southern dis- 

 tricts of the United States. It sometimes attains a great size, but is 

 more commonly of moderate stature. Its wood is of little use. This 

 tree is frequently found with a cork-like bark protruding in shreds from 

 its branches. 



