THE PIED FLYCATCHER. 



and in some parts of Scotland. Some 

 authorities say that it is most numer- 

 ous in the Lake District, but I liave met 

 with far more specimens in certain parts 

 of the Principahty than anywhere else. 



The male has a very pretty, though 

 short and oft-repeated song. It re- 

 sembles that of the Redstart so closely 

 that it is difficult to say with certainty 

 which bird is producing the music un- 

 less the singer be seen. This also applies 

 to its call notes. 



A male Pied Flycatcher is a creature of 

 decided character. The one figured in 

 our photograph was busy feeding his 

 mate, sitting on six beautiful pale blue 

 eggs, in a hole in an old tree, which had 

 been struck and partially destroyed by 

 lightning, when a friend of mine and I 

 discovered him. Upon our examining 

 the nesting site the female fluttered out, 

 and joining her mate, they flitted about 

 together from tree to tree until he evi- 

 dently thought it was time for her to 

 return to her maternal duties. She was, 

 however, afraid to venture back to her 

 nest because my camera stood within 

 a few feet of the entrance hole, and 

 flew nervously from one branch to 

 another in the neighbouring trees. Her 



235 



