56 



RED-EYED FLYCATCHER. 



formed of pieces of hornets' nests, some flax, fragments of withered 

 leaves, slips of vine bark, bits of paper, all glued together with the 

 saliva of the bird, and the silk of caterpillars, so as to be very com- 

 pact; the inside is lined with fine slips of grape vine bark, fibrous 

 grass, and sometimes hair. These nests are so durable that I have 

 often known them to resist the action of the weather for a year; 

 and in one instance I found the nest of the Yellow-bird built in the 

 cavity of one of these of the preceding year. The mice veiy often 

 take possession of them after they are abandoned by the owners. 

 The eggs are four, sometimes five, pure white, except near the 

 great end, where they are marked with a few small dots of dark 

 brown or reddish. They generally raise two brood in the season. 



The Red-eyed Flycatcher is one of the adopted nurses of the 

 Cow-bird, and a very favorite one, shewing all the symptoms of 

 affection for the foundling, and as much solicitude for its safety, as 

 if it were its own. The figure of that singular bird, accompanied 

 by a particular account of its history, is given in Plate XVIII of 

 the present volume. 



Before I take leave of this bird, it may not be amiss to ob- 

 serve that there is another, and a rather less species of Flycatcher, 

 somewhat resembling the Red-eyed, which is frequently found in 

 its company. Its eyes are hazel, its back more cinereous than the 

 other, and it has a single light streak over the eye. The notes of 

 this bird are low, somewhat plaintive, but warbled out with great 

 sweetness; and form a striking contrast with those of the Red-eyed 

 Flycatcher. I think it probable that Dr. Barton had reference to 

 this bird when he made the following remarks. See his "Frag- 

 ments of the Natural History of Pennsylvania,'' page 19. " Miis- 

 " cicapa olivacea. — I do not think with Mr. Pennant that this is the 

 " same bird as the Whip-Tom-Kelly of the West Indies. Our bird 

 " has no such note ; but a great variety of soft, tender and agree- 

 " able notes. It inhabits forests ; and does not like the West India 

 bird build a pendulous nest." Had the learned Professor, how- 



