47^ SPOTTED FLY-CATCHER. Class II. 



when the young can fly the old ones withdraw 

 with them into thick woods, where they frolick 

 among the top branches ; frequently dropping 

 from the boughs quite perpendicularly on the 

 flies that sport beneath, and rising again in the 

 same direction. They will also take their stand 

 on the top of some stake or post, from whence 

 they spring forth on their prey, returning still 

 to the same stand for many times together. 

 They feed also on cherries, of which they seem 

 very fond. 



The head is large, of a brownish hue spotted 

 obscurely with black ; the back of a mouse 

 color ; the wings and tail dusky ; the interior 

 edges of the quil feathers edged with pale yel- 

 low ; the breast and belly white ; the shafts of 

 the feathers on the former dusky; the throat 

 and sides under the wings are dashed with red ; 

 the bill is very broad at the base, ridged in 

 the middle, and round the base are several 

 short bristles ; the inside of the mouth is yel- 

 low ; the legs and feet short and black. 



Descrip- 

 tion. 



