PIED FLYCATCHER. 
Muscicapa luctuosa, Temm. 
Le Gobe-mouche becfigue. 
In the British Isles this interesting little bird is exceedingly local in the districts it chooses for its periodical 
visits. Arriving, on the return of spring, from the more congenial and warmer portions of the Old Continent, 
it takes up its abode, not, as might be expected, in the southern parts of our island, but in the northern 
and midland counties, especially Lancashire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire, finding probably either food or some 
other inducement, of which we have no knowledge, that is suited to its wants. In France and Germany it 
is far from being scarce ; but its most favourite tract is along the European shores of the Mediterranean, and 
over the whole of Italy. In Holland, and, we believe, in Denmark, Sweden and Russia, it is never seen. 
The Pied Flycatcher is a most active and unwearied pursuer of the insect tribes, being continually in 
motion, darting at them as they pass, or searching after them among leaves and flowers. Whether it be for 
the sake of the fruit itself, or for the insects which abound near the figs, certain it is, that from the circum- 
stance of the bird being constantly found in the neighbourhood of fig trees, it has obtained the name of 
Beccafico. Jt constructs a nest in the holes of trees, and lays from four to six eggs, of a uniform pale blue 
colour. 
WHITE-COLLARED FLYCATCHER. 
Muscicapa albicollis, Temm. 
Le Gobe-mouche a collier. 
Autuoucs we have seen this species in a collection of British birds, and were informed that it was supposed 
to have been killed in England, still we have every reason to believe that it seldom advances so far north as 
England, or even the adjacent provinces of France or Germany; it is in fact more strictly confined to the 
central portion and Asiatic confines of Europe. 
As regards the distinguishing characteristics of these two closely allied species, we may observe, that the 
adults in the plumage of summer may be easily distinguished from each other by the absence in the former of 
the entire collar round the neck ; but to render the description of both these species more complete, we beg 
leave to translate the following passage from the valuable Manuel d’ Ornithologie of M. Temminck: “The 
female of the two species, the males in their winter clothing, and the young, all resemble each other so closely 
as frequently to deceive. ‘They may be easily distinguished, except in the first species, by the little white 
speculum which occupies the centre of the wing in JZ. albzcollis, whilst the wing is of one colour in 
M. luctuosa ; secondly, by the lateral feathers of the tail, of which the two external have the edge whitish, more 
or less spread, according to age, in JZ. albecollis, whilst in the J. ductuosa the three lateral tail-feathers are 
slightly bordered with white edges. The manner of living, the note or call, and the song of the male offer 
very marked differences: the eggs also differ in colour. It is to M. Lotinguer that we are indebted for the 
knowledge of the double moult which annually takes place in these birds.” 
In winter, according to the above-quoted author, both these species lose the black plumage of summer, and 
assume a uniform brown livery over all the upper parts, at which season the young, female and males, 
resemble each other: on the return of spring they moult again, the males assuming their black livery. 
In the month of October, and during the greater part of the winter, both these species collect in countless 
flocks in Italy, where they are known by the common term of Becegjici, and at which time they are taken in 
immense numbers for the table, being considered an especial luxury. 
The eggs of M. albicollis are greenish blue spotted with brown, 
The Plate represents a male and female of AZ. ductuosa, and a male of J. albicollis, of the natural size, in 
the plumage of summer. 
