101 



HOODED FLYCATCHER. 



MUSCICAPA CUCULLATA. 

 [Plate XXVI.— Fig. 3.] 



Le gobe-mouche citrin, Bitffon, IV, 538. PL Enl. 666. — Hooded JVarhler^ Arct, Zool. p. 

 400, jVb. 287.— Latham, II, 462.— Catesby, I, m.— Mitred Warhler, Turton, I, 

 601. — Hooded Warbler, Ibid, — Peale's Museum, No. 7062. 



WHY those two judicious naturalists, Pennant and Latham, 

 should have arranged this bird with the Warblers is to me unac- 

 countable; as few of the muscicapae are more distinctly marked 

 than the species now before us. The bill is broad at the base, 

 where it is beset with bristles ; the upper mandible notched, and 

 slightly overhanging at the tip; and the manners of the bird, in 

 every respect, those of a Flycatcher. This species is seldom seen 

 in Pennsylvania and the northern states ; but through the whole 

 extent of country south of Maryland, from the Atlantic to the Mis- 

 sissippi, is very abundant. It is however most partial to low situa- 

 tions, where there is plenty of thick underwood ; abounds among 

 the canes in the state of Tenessee, and in the Mississippi territory; 

 and seems perpetually in pursuit of winged insects ; now and then 

 uttering three loud not unmusical and very lively notes, resembling 

 twee, twee, twttchie, while engaged in the chase. Like almost all 

 its tribe it is full of spirit, and exceedingly active. It builds a very 

 neat and compact nest, generally in the fork of a small bush, forms 

 it outwardly of moss and flax, or broken hemp, and lines it with hair, 

 and sometimes feathers ; the eggs are five, of a greyish white, with 

 red spots towards the great end. In all parts of the United States, 

 where it inhabits, it is a bird of passage. At Savannah I met with 

 it about the twentieth of March ; so that it probably retires to the 



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