19 



PIED FLTCATCHEE. 



MUSCICAPA ATRICAPILLA, Linn. 



Muscicapa atricapilla, Linn. S. N. i. p. 326 (1766) ; Hewitson, 



i. p. 75 ; Yarr. ed. 4>, i. p. 229 ; Dresser, iii. p. 453. 

 Muscicapa luctaosa, Naum. ii. p. 231 ; Macg. iii. p. 524. 



Gobe-mouche noir, French ; Schwarzgrauer Fliegenf anger, 

 German; Papamoscas, Cerrojillo, Spanish. 



This pretty little bird is a vernal migrant to our 

 country; but although not by any means very un- 

 common, its breeding-haunts in Great Britain are so 

 restricted that in the greater part of England it is 

 virtually unknown. Although nests of the Pied Fly- 

 catcher are said to have been found occasionally in 

 several of the midland and southern counties, I believe 

 that I am correct in stating that it is only known to breed 

 annually and regularly in certain counties of Scotland, 

 and south of the Tweed only in Northumberland, West- 

 moreland, Cumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Cheshire, 

 and Yorkshire, and three or four of the counties of Wales. 

 In the other counties of England this Flycatcher (I write 

 under correction) is only known as an accidental bird 

 of passage, or, as I have said above, is not known at 

 all. A few specimens have been obtained in Northamp- 

 tonshire on the vernal migration ; but my personal 



