24 BEAM BIRD. 



BEAM BIRD ( Muscicapa grisola, Linn^us.) 



Muscicapa grisola, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 328. 20.— Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 949. — Lath. 

 Ind. Orn. 2. p. 467.— Briss. 2. p. 357. 1. 1. 35. f. 3.— Raii, Syn. p. 81. 7.— 

 Will. p. 153. 171.— Le Globe-mouche, proprement dit, Buff. Ois. v. 4. p. 517. 

 t. 25. — Id. PI. Enl. 565. f. 1.— Gobe-mouche, gris. Temm. Man.d'Orn. 1. p. 152. 

 — GecleckterFlugenfanger, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 3. p. 421. — Meyer, Tasschenb. 

 Deut. 1. p. 211.— Frisch, t. 22. f. 2. 6.— Spotted Flycatcher, Br. Zool. 1. 

 p. 350. No. 134.— Lewins Br. Birds, 3. t. 87.— Lath. Syn. 3. p. 323. 1. 

 —Mont. Orn. Diet.— Bewick's Br. Birds, 1. p. 196.— Ib. Supp. p. 30.— Selby, 

 pi. 43. f. l.p. 146. 



Provincial. — Rafter. Post Bird. Bee Bird. Cherry Chopper. 

 Cherry Sucker. Chanchider. 



This species is about the size of a titlark ; length not quite six inches. 

 The bill is dusky, and broad at the base ; inside of the mouth yellow ; 

 irides hazel. 



The whole upper parts of the bird are brown ; the head obscurely 

 spotted with dusky : breast and belly dull white ; the shafts of the 

 feathers on the breast dusky : sides under the wings tinged with dull 

 orange ; legs short and black. 



This bird comes to us late in the spring, and departs in September, 

 * (the middle of October, Selby.) * It frequents orchards and groves, 

 will often make its nest on the limb of some fruit tree nailed against 

 the wall, or in a hole ; sometimes in out-buildings, upon the end of a 

 rafter or beam ; and at other times against the body of a large tree upon 

 the stump of a decayed branch. The nest is formed of bents, moss, 

 and such like materials, interwoven with spiders' webs, and lined with 

 feathers. 



It lays four or five eggs, not much unlike those of the redbreast, 

 but rather less, and the rust-coloured spots more distinct, and not so 

 much confined to the larger end. 



Its food seems to be entirely winged insects, which it takes on the 

 wing, darting upon them from some leafless branch or post, to which 

 it returns ; whence it is called in Kent the post bird. We are told it 

 is particularly fond of cherries. * But Selby says he has not been 

 able to verify this, and it may in such cases have been confounded 

 with the fauvette.* Perhaps they may frequent the cherry and other 

 fruit trees for the sake of flies, which are attracted by the fruit. 



As soon as the young birds leave the nest, they are led by the old 

 ones to some neighbouring wood or grove where insects abound, and 

 where they may be seen darting in every direction in pursuit of flies, 

 and frequently returning to the same stand. 



Its note is a simple weak chirp, not frequently used till after the 

 young are fled, so that the bird is not easily discovered, though it is by 

 no means uncommon, and seems to be more generally diffused in 



