29'2 SMALL-HEADED FLYCATCHER. 



ous details of this sort. When Alexander Wilson visited me at 

 Louisville, he found in my already large collection of drawings, a figure 

 of the present species, which, being at that time unknown to him, he 

 copied and afterwards published in his great work, but without ac- 

 knowledging the privilege that had thus been granted to him. I have 

 more than once regretted this, not by any means so much on my own 

 account, as for the sake of one to whom we are so deeply indebted for 

 his elucidation of oxxr ornithology. 



I consider this Flycatcher as among the scarcest of those that visit 

 our middle districts ; for, although it seems that Wilson procured one 

 that '' was shot on the 24th of April, in an orchard," and afterwards 

 " several individuals of this species in various quarters of New Jersey, 

 particularly in swamps," all my endeavours to trace it in that section 

 of the country have failed, as have those of my friend Edward Harris, 

 Esq., who is a native of that State, resides there, and is well acquaint- 

 ed with all the birds found in the district. I have never seen it out 

 of Kentucky, and even there it is a very uncommon bird. In Philadel- 

 phia, Baltimore, New York, or farther eastward or southward, in our 

 Atlantic districts, I never saw a single individualj not even in mu- 

 seums, private collections, or for sale in bird-stuffers' shops. 



In its habits this species is closely allied to the Hooded and Green 

 Black-capt Flycatchers, being fond of low thick coverts, whether in the 

 interior of swamps, or by the margins of sluggish pools, from which it 

 only removes to higher situations after a continuation of wet weather, 

 when I have found it on rolling grounds, and amid woods comparative- 

 ly clear of under-growth. 



DiflFering from the true Flycatchers, this species has several rather 

 pleasing notes, which it enunciates at pretty regular intervals, and 

 which may be heard at the distance of forty or fifty yards in calm 

 weather. I have more than once seen it attracted by an imitation 

 of these notes. While chasing insects on wing, although it clicks 

 its bill on catching them, the sound thus emitted is comparatively weak, 

 as is the case with the species above mentioned, it being stronger how- 

 ever in the Green Blackcapt, than in this or the Hooded species. Like 

 these birds, it follows its prey to some distance at times, whilst at 

 others, it searches keenly among the leaves for its prey, but, I believe, 

 never alights on the ground, not even for the purpose of drinking, 

 which act it performs by passing lightly over the water and sipping as 

 it were the quantity it needs. 



