184 



FRENCH PIE. 



ferruginous brown ; the back of the neck dashed with grey ; the base of 

 the upper mandible whitish ; beneath the eye a brown streak ; breast 

 and sides dirty white, marked with numerous semicircular dusky lines ; 

 middle of the belly and vent white ; the quills and tail-feathers brown ; 

 the outer web of the exterior feather of the latter white. 



The Flusher visits us in May, and departs in September; chiefly 

 haunts inclosed moist situations, and makes its nest in some thick 

 hedge, composed of moss and fibrous roots, put together with wool, and 

 lined with hair. It lays five or six eggs of a bluish-coloured white, 

 with cinereous-brown spots, most at the larger end ; sometimes the eggs 

 are white, with dusky spots ; their weight from forty to fifty grains. 

 When it has young, and you approach the nest, the birds are clamorous, 

 making a chattering noise. Its principal food is insects, with which it 

 feeds the young, particularly the chaffer, or dorbeetle. These it trans- 

 fixes on a thorn, tears off the body, leaving the elytra, wings, and head 

 behind. The male has also a chirping note, not very unlike the house- 

 sparrow ; and we have heard it make a sort of a song. 



It appears to be a local species ; is not uncommon in the north of 

 Wiltshire, and part of Gloucestershire and Somersetshire, particularly 

 about Bristol, where we have taken its young, and kept them for some 

 time. These lived in amity for about two months, when violent battles 

 ensued, and two out of four were killed. The other two were chained 

 in the manner goldfinches frequently are ; they were extremely docile, 

 would come to the call for the sake of a fly, of which they were ex- 

 tremely fond ; when raw meat was given them, would endeavour to 

 fasten it to some part of their open cage in order to tear it ; would eat 

 mice and small birds cut in pieces, feather, fur, and bones, disgorging 

 the refuse like the hawk tribe. 



One was killed by swallowing too large a quantity of mouse-fur, 

 which it could not eject, and was strangled; the other became so 

 fat, that it expired in a fit while it was feeding on insects. The 

 young resemble the female till the following spring. It is found in 

 Russia and France, and is common in Italy. In Egypt it is called 

 Dagnousse. * Selby has not been able to trace it farther north than 

 Yorkshire and Cumberland.* 



FLYCATCHERS (Muscicapidce, Vigors.)— A family of Perchers 

 (Insessores.) 



FOOLISH GUILLEMOT. — A name for the Willock. 

 FRECKLED HERON.— Supposed to be the young of the Squacco 

 Heron. 



FRENCH PIE. — A name for the Poppinjay. 



