WHITE-EYED FLY-CATCHER. 329 



nests, which have so great a resemblance to paper, that the nest appears 

 as if studded with bits of that substance. It is lined with fine fibrous 

 roots, and the dried filaments of tlie Spanish moss. The nest is of the 

 form of an inverted cone, and is fastened to two or three twigs of a Green 

 Briar, a species of Smilax abundant in the old fields and along the fences. 

 The eggs are from four to six, of a pure white, with a few dark spots near 

 the larger end. In those districts where the Cow-bird is found, it fre- 

 quently drops one of its eggs among them. I have seen the first brood 

 from the nest about the middle of May. Unless when disturbed while 

 upon its nest, this bird is extremely sociable, and may be approached 

 within a few feet ; but when startled from the nest, it displays the 

 anxiety common to almost all birds on such occasions. The difference of 

 colour in the sexes is scarcely perceptible. 



The figure of a male has been given on a branch of the tree called in 

 Louisiana the Pride of China, an ornamental plant, with fragrant flowers. 

 The wood is extremely valuable on account of its great durability, and is 

 employed for making posts and rails for the fences. Being capable of 

 receiving a beautiful polish, it is also frequently made into various articles 

 of furniture. For these reasons, the planters have found it expedient to 

 adopt measures for increasing the propagation of this tree. It bears a 

 pulpy fruit inclosing a hard seed, which is swallowed by different birds 

 during the winter months. It has been thought deleterious, but without 

 reason. A decoction of the root is used by the planters as an effectual 

 vermifuge. 



ViKEO KOVEBORACEKSis, Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 70. 

 MuscicAPA NOVEBOHACENsis, Gmel. Syst. Nat. voL i. p. 947 Lath. Ind. Ornith. 



vol. ii. p. 489. 

 Hanging Fly-catcher, Lat7i. Synops. Suppl. p. 174. 

 White-eyed Fly-catcher, Muscicapa cantatrix, TFi/s. A mer. Ornith. voL ii. 



p. 266. PI. 18. Fig. 6. 



Adult Male. Plate LXIII. 



Bill shortish, nearly straight, rather strong, conico-acuminate, com- 

 pressed towards the end ; upper mandible slightly notched, and a Httle 

 deflected at the tip ; lower mandible ascending at the tip. Nostrils basal, 

 rounded. Head and neck of ordinary size ; body rather slender. Feet 



