GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 



MUSCICAPA CEINITA. 

 [Plate XIII.— Fig. 2.] 



Linn. Syst. 325.— Lath. II, S57.—Jrct. Zool. p, 386, JVo. 267.— Le moiiche-rolle de Vif- 

 ginie a huppe verte, Buff. IV, 565. PL enl. 569. — Pe ale's Museum, JVo. 6645. 



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 dex- 

 terous 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 oc- 

 casionally 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 Wood- 

 pecker. 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. Whe- 

 ther he surrounds his nest with this by way of terror em, to pre- 

 vent other birds or animals from entering; or whether it be that 

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

 fact however is notorious. The female lays four eggs of a dull 

 cream color thickly scratched with purple lines of various tints as 

 if done with a pen. See fig. 2. 



