170 cassell's book ok birds. 



the black-capped or pied fly-catcher. 

 The Black-capped or Pied Fly-catcher (Muscicapa atricapilla) is five inches long, and about 

 eight inches and a half broad. The male bird is deep grey, more or less clearly marked with black 

 upon the entire upper side ; the brow, lower parts of the body, and a patch upon the wings are white. 

 The female is greyish brown above, and dirty white beneath ; her anterior wing-quills being blackish 

 brown, whilst the undermost are bordered with white ; the three exterior tail-feathers are white upon 

 the outer web. The young are similar to the mother. Both sexes have dark brown eyes, and black 

 beaks and feet. This species is particularly numerous in some parts of Germany, and usually makes 

 its appearance in England about April, leaving for more southern latitudes in September, but it is by 

 no means common in this country. A nest found by Mr. Heysham, of Carlisle, contained eight eggs, 

 one of which lay at the bottom, whilst the rest were placed perpendicularly, in regular order round 

 the little apartment, the narrow end turned upwards and supported against the sides of the wall. 



THE COLLARED OR WHITE-NECKED FLY-CATCHER. 

 The Collared or White-necked Fly-catcher (Muscicapa albicollis) is frequently mistaken 

 for the preceding species, the females especially bearing a most deceptive resemblance to each other. 

 The adult male, however, is recognisable by a white ring around the throat, and the female is without 

 the light edging to the tail-feathers. Both these Mourning Fly-catchers inhabit Europe, the latter 

 being numerously met with in its most southern countries, but comparatively rarely seen in the more 

 northern portions ; whilst the former frequents every part of the European continent, making its 

 appearance at the end of April, and leaving again about September : their migrations often extend as 

 far as Central Africa, and are usually carried on at night : the males are always the first to leave, 

 and generally return to Europe before their mates. Both species are extremely lively, passing the 

 entire day, when the weather is fine, in pursuing their prey, or chasing each other in sportive 

 evolutions through the air, or hopping nimbly from twig to twig, meanwhile uttering their twittering 

 call-note. Even when perched, their little bodies are kept in constant motion by the incessant 

 agitation of their wings and tail. The song of these birds is generally to be heard long before 

 sunrise, when all their feathered companions are still asleep ; and we are therefore inclined to listen to 

 their voices with a pleasure and attention, occasioned rather by the circumstances under which their 

 penetrating and somewhat melancholy notes are uttered, than from any intrinsic merits of their 

 music ; during the breeding season, however, the male sings agreeably and energetically throughout 

 the day. Both these species of Fly-catchers subsist upon the same kinds of insects, and, should 

 their ordinary food fall short, have recourse to various berries, or they glean small beetles from the 

 leaves of the trees. Like all birds that live in a state of constant activity, they are extremely 

 voracious, and devour enormous quantities of grasshoppers, horse-flies, butterflies, gnats, and other 

 insects, always seizing their prey upon the wing, even should the victim be creeping on a leaf, or 

 running over the ground. The nests are usually made in hollow trees, and are padded with a 

 layer of moss and fibres, lined with feathers, wool, and hair. Should a hollow tree not be attainable, 

 the nest is built upon some branch quite close to the trunk. The brood consists of five or six 

 delicate-shelled, pale greenish eggs ; these are incubated by both parents, and are hatched within a 

 fortnight after they are laid. In three weeks' time the nestlings are fledged, but they remain for a 

 considerably longer period under parental care and guidance. In some countries boxes are often 

 placed in gardens in order to attract the breeding pairs ; and so tame do the families thus reared 

 become, that they will even allow the boxes to be moved from one place to another, without either 

 leaving them or testifying any uneasiness. When caged, they soon attach themselves to those who 



