262 
CHATTERERS. 
its popular title. The Pied Fly-catcher is known to be a frequenter of many parts of 
Europe, even visiting Norway and Sweden in the summer months, while on the coasts of the 
Mediterranean it is very plentiful. It is a migratory bird, generally arriving in northern 
countries about the middle of April, and leaving those for a warmer climate in September. 
The habits of this bird, its mode of flight, and fly-devouring propensities, closely resemble 
those of the preceding species, from which, however, it differs greatly in the locality of its 
nest and the number of the eggs. Instead of placing a simply-constructed nest upon a branch 
or other convenient spot, the Pied Fly-catcher always chooses a hollow in some decaying tree 
for its home, and there deposits no less than seven or eight eggs. 
In one instance noticed by Mr. Yarrell, the eggs w T ere disposed in a very curious manner. 
“A pair had a nest in the identical hole where this species had bred for four successive 
years. On the 16th of May, this nest contained eight eggs, arranged in the following man- 
ner : one lay at the bottom, and the remainder w T ere all severally placed perpendicularly round 
the sides of the nest with the smaller end resting upon it, the effect of which was exceedingly 
beautiful.” The author of this well-observed note further remarks that the eggs from dif- 
ferent nests are found to vary greatly in size. The nest itself is made of dried leaves, moss, 
and hair, and is rather loosely built, and the young make their appearance about the middle 
of June. 
The coloring of this bird is as follows : In the adult male, the top of the head, back of the 
neck, back, and wings are dark blackish-brown, with the exception of a white patch upon the 
forehead, and a broad stripe of white upon the tertiary and greater wing-coverts. The tail is 
black except some bold white marks on some of the outer feathers, and the whole of the under 
surface is pure white. The female is of a delicate brown on the upper parts of the body, and 
those portions which in the male are pure white, are in the female of a dull whitish-gray. In 
dimensions the bird is not equal to the spotted Fly-catcher, barely exceeding five inches in 
total length. 
The singular and beautiful bird which is known by the name of King Tody, or Royal 
Great Crest, is a native of Brazil, and may challenge competition with many of the fly-catchers 
for elegance of form and beauty of coloring. 
It is a very rare bird, and to all appearance but little known in its native land. This 
species is chiefly remarkable for its splendid crest, which is capable of being lowered upon the 
neck, or raised almost perpendicularly, in which latter position it assumes a spreading and 
rounded form, like an open fan. The feathers of the crest are long and slender, and spoon- 
shaped at their extremities. Each feather is bright chestnut-red for the greater part of its 
length, a narrow stripe of rich orange succeeds, and the tip is velvet-black, encircled by a band 
of steel-blue. As may be supposed, the effect of its spread crest is remarkably fine and striking. 
The upper parts of the body are dark chestnut-brown, rather deeper on the quill-feathers of 
the wings. The throat, chest, and abdomen are pale fawn, warming towards chestnut on the 
central line. The total length of this bird is six inches and a half. 
CHATTERERS. 
The family of the Ampeltda?, or Chatterers, is one of considerable size, and includes 
some very beautiful and interesting birds. In all these species the beak is rather broad and 
short, curved on the upper mandible, and well notched at the tip. The claws are sharp and 
hooked, and are grooved underneath. The Chatterers are found in all the warm portions of 
the world, and even northern countries are sometimes favored by a visit from the typical 
species, the Waxen Chatterer. They are divided into several groups or sub-families, the first 
