PORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER. 
85 
given - 8U t r ? ’ s a more faithful representation than that 
jj 111 lis coloured engravings. 
Catch tUe . vcr y great rarity of the fork-tailed fly- 
tliis i ' region, and the advanced season in which 
have ^ uvi( h>al was killed, it is evident that it must 
of exti- ' a " V '.'.^ h'om its native country under the influence 
beUevetT • ^ circumstances ; and we are unable to 
as Cai* a a ^ tS "’ all( h‘rings have ever extended as far 
to th e ,atla ’ n °t"'ithstanding the statements of authors 
differ contrary. It may he propel- to observe, that the 
Vai'i l .[' UCe .’. ,l( h c ated by Linne and Latham between the 
of s u ' " hich they suppose to inhabit Canada, and that 
Alt| H am ’ a l 1 l ,ears to have no existence in nature, 
here 0U ^‘ this bird is so very rare and accidental 
Su uim We . s h°ohl be led to suppose it a more regular 
in, « Vls 'taut of the Southern States, were it not 
es CAn a ° t0 believe that so showy a bird could have 
that tl ,h e observation of travellers: hence we infer, 
Catai 0 ,' C ^ 0l ’h-tailed flycatcher must he included in the 
visjito" 1 * 0 °i those species which are mere fortuitous 
of t i^ 8 ^°. the United States. As but a single specimen 
accot S b' r d has been obtained, I cannot give any 
ration. ° fits a 
ts maimers and habits from personal obser- 
Th 
6ifl a ^ nat j ve country of the fork-tailed flycatcher is 
Calif,,) ' 1 ’ " here it is rather common, and is improperly 
in (widow,) from the great length of its tail, 
of tt,A C 1 eharactcr only it resembles the African birds 
^at name. 
thosp 1 habits of the fork-tailed flycatcher resemble 
biff) ? ether species of the same genus. It is a solitary 
Of a ’ gaining for a long time perched on the limb 
insect ' ee> " hence it occasionally darts after passing 
of k 8 > or > flying downwards, it alights on the tufts 
resti 1 U l8 ° "h'ch appear above the water, affording it a 
l^nd ' llace h* the midst of those partially inundated 
n ot f’ ca ^hed savannas, beyond the limits of which it is 
its t^n < !'- leri tly seen. While on the tuft, this bird moves 
B 
tail 
“sides 
111 a manner similar to that of the wagtails. 
4 insects, the fork-tailed flycatcher feeds occa- 
