( 176 ) 

 THE GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 



MUSCICAPA CRINITA, LiNN. 

 PLATE CXXIX. Male. 



How often whilst gazing on the nest of a bird, admiring the beauty 

 of its structure, or wondering at the skill displayed in securing it from 

 danger, have I been led to question myself why there is often so much 

 difference in the conformation and materials of those of even the same 

 species, in different latitudes or localities. How often, too, while admir- 

 ing the bird itself, have I in vain tried to discover the causes why more 

 mental and corporeal hardihood should have been granted to certain indi- 

 viduals, which although small and seemingly more delicate than others, 

 are wont to force their way, and that at an early season, quite across the 

 whole extent of the United States ; while others, of greater bodily magni- 

 tude, equal powers of flight, and similar courage, never reach so far, in 

 fact merely enter our country or confine their journeys to half the dis- 

 tance to which the others reach. The diminutive Ruby-throated Hum- 

 ming-bird, the delicate Winter Wren, and many warblers^ all birds of 

 comparatively short flight, are seen to push their way from the West 

 India Islands, or the table-lands of Mexico and South America, farther 

 north than our boundary-lines, before they reach certain localities, which 

 we cannot look upon but as being the favourite places of rendezvous al- 

 lotted to these beings for their summer abode. 



How wonderful have I thought it that all birds wliich migrate are 

 not equally privileged. Why do not the Turkey Buzzard, the Fork- 

 tailed Hawk, and many others possessing remarkable ease and power of 

 flight, visit the same places ? There the Vulture would find its favourite 

 carrion during the heat of the dog-days, and the Hawk abundance of in- 

 sects. Why do not the Pigeons found in the south ever visit the State 

 of Maine, when one species, the Columba migratoria, is permitted to 

 ramble over the whole extent of our vast country ? And why does the 

 small Pewee go so far north, accompanied by the Tyrant Flycatcher ; 

 while the Titirit, larger and stronger than either, remains in the Floridas 

 and Carolinas, and the Great Crested Flycatcher, the bird now before 

 you, seldom travels farther east than Connecticut ? Reader, can you as- 

 sist me ? 1 



