SPOTTED FLY-CATCHER. 201 



other parts of Europe during summer only, and retire to 

 warmer regions for their winter retreat. They are entirely 

 confined to the Old World ; other divisions of the Denti- 

 rostres filling their place in the new. 



The Spotted Fly-catcher is readily distinguished from 

 other little birds by its peculiar manners, and, when once 

 pointed out, cannot be again mistaken. It sits, when on 

 the watch for food, in the outer spray of a tree, or more 

 commonly on a wall, or on the top of the palings of a park, 

 and every now and then descends from its station upon 

 a passing insect, and then regains its former place ; if fol- 

 lowed, it flits along before its pursuer, alighting again and 

 again on the wall or palings a little way in advance of him, 

 and often admitting of a very near approach. 



It is one of the least shy of our summer birds, and builds 

 commonly in gardens, in situations similar to those chosen 

 by the redbreast, and on the walls of houses where fruit-trees, 

 or other climbing shrubs, are trained, placing its mossy nest 

 in an angle formed by the branches. 



Fly-catchers are said to rear but one brood in the year, 

 which is very probably the truth, as their arrival in England 

 is later than that of most summer migrants ; but we have 

 known an instance, where the first nest and eggs had been 

 taken away, of a second and a third being placed in the 

 same locality, where a brick had been displaced in an old 

 wall. They are believed, also, to return to the same spot 

 for incubation year after year, provided the locality is a 

 permanent one, such as the place just mentioned. The 

 Spotted Fly-catcher, although the most silent of our summer 

 visitors, is not one of the least interesting. It makes its 

 appearance in England the middle or latter part of May, 

 and young broods are fledged about the middle of the 

 succeeding month. Three young Fly-catchers were brought 

 us, which had been taken from a nest in an adjoining gar- 



