GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 



225 



GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. (Bluscicapa 

 crinita.) 



PLATE XIII.— Fig. 2. 



Linn. Syst. 325.— Lath. ii. 357.— Arct. Zool. p. 386, No. 267.— Le Moucherolle de 

 Virginie a huppe verte, Buff. iv. 565, PI. enl. 569. — Peak's Museum, No. 

 6645. 



TYBANNUS CBWITUS.—Swawson. 



Tyrannus crinitus, Swain. Monog. Journ. of Science, vol. xx. p. 271. — Muscicapa 

 crinita, Bonap. Synop. p. 67. 



By glancing at the physiognomy of this bird, and the rest of 

 the figures on the same plate, it will readily be observed, that 

 they all belong to one particular family of the same genus. 

 They possess strong traits of their particular cast, and are all 

 remarkably dexterous at their profession of fly-catching. The 

 one now before us is less generally known than the preceding, 

 being chiefly confined to the woods. There his harsh squeak 

 — for he has no song — is occasionally heard above most others. 

 He also visits the orchard, is equally fond of bees, but wants 

 the courage and magnanimity of the king bird. He arrives 

 in Pennsylvania early in May, and builds his nest in a hollow 

 tree deserted by the blue bird or woodpecker. The materials 

 of which this is formed are scanty, and rather novel. One of 

 these nests, now before me, is formed of a little loose hay, 

 feathers of the guinea fowl, hogs' bristles, pieces of cast snake 

 skins, and dogs' hair. Snake skins with this bird appear to 

 be an indispensable article, for I have never yet found one of 

 his nests without this material forming a part of it.* Whether 

 he surrounds his nest with this by way of terrorem, to prevent 

 other birds or animals from entering, or whether it be that 

 he finds its silky softness suitable for his young, is uncertain ; 



* As I have mentioned at page 143, this forms the lining to the nests 

 of other birds also ; and as the number of snakes is considerable in those 

 uncultivated and woody countries, their castings may form a more fre- 

 quent substitute than is generally supposed. — Ed. 



VOL. I. P 



