24 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 
rump, and browner on the wings; the forehead, central coverts, outer borders of 
secondaries, and under parts white; bill and feet black; iris dark brown. ‘The 
female differs from the male in the browner colouring of the upper parts, and all 
the white areas with a buffish stain. "The male after its autumn moult more nearly 
approaches the female, inasmuch as the black colouring becomes brownish. Young 
in nestling plumage have the upper parts spotted with buff, and the under parts 
with dark brown. 
The Pied Flycatcher arrives on our coasts towards the end of April, and the 
first eggs may usually be obtained by about the middle of the following month, 
although some pairs nidificate several weeks later. Unlike its relative the Spotted 
Flycatcher, it always nests in a hole, either in a tree, a rock, wall, or bridge, 
(especially when built over water); deserted nesting-holes of Woodpeckers or Tits 
are sometimes utilized: it haunts groves of oak, beech, aspen, or chestnut, in 
preference to dense wood; although, according to Dixon, it may sometimes be met 
with in the latter situation. Lord Lilford says that “‘the nest is generally situated 
in the hole of a pollard, willow, or other tree, often in an old wall; in fact, very 
much in the sort of locality that we should look for a nest of the Common Red- 
start.” 
The nest is somewhat loosely constructed of dry bents, rootlets, and a little 
moss; the lining being formed of wool, feathers, and sometimes hair. The eggs 
vary in number from four to eight, five to six being usual. As Lord Lilford 
observes ‘‘ Yarrell records an instance of eight in a nest, but, from my acquaintance 
with this species in Spain, I should consider that number as very exceptional.’ 
The colouring is always a very pale blue and unspotted, there is a slight variation 
in depth of tint, but otherwise the only modifications in the eggs of this bird are 
in size and outline, depending much upon the age and condition of health of the 
parent bird. 
W. Warde Fowler in his charming ‘‘ Summer Studies of Birds and Books,” 
gives a most delightful account of the Pied Flycatcher, which is well worth quoting 
in full, if only space would permit; but I must content myself with an extract :— 
“Qn the Continent I have always seen him in just such places as he loves in 
Wales, among the larger timber of a Swiss mountain-side, or on the forest slopes 
of the Taunus range. Just as the trout loves swiftly-running streams, or as the 
Wood-wren is sure to be heard where the oak is the prevailing tree, so there are 
certain spots which you instinctively feel that this bird ought to have chosen for 
his habitation, and if you are in the right district you may fairly lay a wager 
that he will be found there. Such a spot, on the edge of the beech forests of 
Wiesbaden, will always remain in very clear outline in my memory, for it was 
