18 CANADA FLYCATCHER. 



The Muscicapa Bonapartii was met with in Louisiana, where, during 

 a residence of many years, I never saw the present species. Nay, the 

 Canada Flycatcher, although a migratory, may be said to be truly a north- 

 ern bird, never having been observed south of Pennsylvania, east of the 

 range of the Alleghany mountains, or below Pittsburg, on their broad 

 western slope. 



I first became acquainted with the habits of the Canada Flycatcher in 

 the Great Pine Forest, while in company with that excellent woodsman 

 Jediah Irish, of whom I have previously spoken ; and I have since as- 

 certained that it gives a decided preference to mountainous places, thickly 

 covered with almost impenetrable undergrowths of tangled shrubbery. 

 I found it breeding in the Pine Forest, and have followed it through 

 Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the country of 

 Labrador, in every portion of which, suited to its retired habits, it brings 

 forth its broods in peaceful security. 



It no doubt comes from the southern parts of America, or from the 

 West Indies, but the mode of its migration is still unknown to me. In 

 Pennsylvania, about the middle of May, a few are seen in the maritime 

 districts, where they seem merely to be resting after the fatigues of a 

 long and tedious journey, before they retreat to their favourite haunts 

 in the mountainous tracts. There they are heard while concealed among 

 the opening blossoms, giving vent to their mirth in song, perhaps thank- 

 ing the Author of their being for their safe return to their cherished abode. 

 Their notes are not unmusical, although simple and not attractive. Where- 

 ever a streamlet of rushing water, deeply shaded by the great mountain 

 laurel (Rhododendron maximum) was met with, there was the Canada 

 Flycatcher to be found. You might see it skipping among the branches, 

 peeping beneath each leaf, examining every chink of the bark, moving 

 along with rapidity and elegance, singing, making love to its mate, and 

 caressing her with all the fervour of a true sylvan lover. 



The nest of this bird which I found, was filled to the brim with four 

 yovmg ones ready to take wing ; and as it was on the 11th of August, I 

 conclvided that the parents had reared another brood that season. When 

 I put my hand on them, they all left the nest and scrambled off, emitting 

 a plaintive tsche, which immediately brought the old ones. Notwithstanding 

 all the anxious cares of the latter in assisting them to hide, I procured all 

 of them ; but after examining each minutely I set them at liberty. They 

 were of a dull greyish tint above, of a delicate citron colour beneath, and 



