85 



WARBLING FLYCATCHER. 

 MUSCICAPA MELODIA. 

 [Plate XLIL— Fig. 2.] 



THIS sweet little warbler is for the first time figured and de- 

 scribed. In its general appearance it resembles the Red-eyed Fly- 

 catcher; but on a close comparison differs from that bird in many 

 particulars. It arrives in Pennsylvania about the middle of April, 

 and inhabits the thick foliage of orchards and high trees ^ its voice 

 is soft, tender and soothing, and its notes flow in an easy continued 

 strain that is extremely pleasing. It is often heard among the 

 weeping willows and Lombardy poplars of the city; is rarely ob- 

 served in the woods; but seems particularly attached to the society 

 of man. It gleans among the leaves, occasionally darting after 

 winged insects, and searching for caterpillars ; and seems by its 

 manners to partake considerably of the nature of the genus Sylvia. 

 It is late in departing, and I have frequently heard its notes among 

 the fading leaves of the poplar in October. 



This little bird may be distinguished from all the rest of our 

 songsters by the soft tender easy flow of its notes, while hid among 

 the foliage. In these there is nothing harsh, sudden or emphati- 

 cal; they glide along in a kind of meandring strain that is pecu- 

 liarly its own. In May and June it may be generally heard in the 

 orchards, the borders of the city, and around the farm house. 



This species is five inches and a half long, and eight inches 

 and a half in extent; bill dull lead color above, and notched near 

 the point, lower a pale flesh color; eye dark hazel; line over the 

 eye and whole lower parts white, the latter tinged with very pale 

 greenish yellow near the breast; upper parts a pale green olive; 



VOL. v. Y 



