THE GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 
209 
the breast pale grey. Female duller ; the upper parts tinged with brown ; 
the lower more dusky-. 
Male, 85, 14$. 
North America generally. Migratory. A few winter in the south of 
Florida. 
The Cotton-wood. 
Populus candicans, Willd ., Sp. PI., vol. iv. p. 806. Pursch., FI. Amer., vol. ii. 
p. 618. Mich., Arbr. Forest, de l’Amer. Sept., vol. iii. pi. 13.— Dicecia octandria, 
Linn . — Amentace^e, Juss. 
This species of Poplar is distinguished by its broadly cordate, acuminate, 
unequally and obtusely serrated venous leaves, hairy petioles, resinous buds, 
and round twigs. The leaves are dark green above, whitish beneath. The 
resinous substance with which the buds are covered has an agreeable smell. 
The bark is smooth, of a greenish tint. 
THE GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 
Muscicapa crinita, Linn . 
PLATE LYn.— Male. 
How often whilst gazing on the nest of a bird, admiring the beauty of its 
structure, or wondering at the skill displayed in securing it from danger, 
have I been led to question myself why there is often so much difference in 
the conformation and materials of the nests of even the same species, in dif- 
ferent latitudes or localities. How often, too, while admiring the bird itself, 
have I in vain tried to discover the causes why more mental and corporeal 
hardihood should have been granted to certain individuals, which although 
small and seemingly more delicate than others, are wont to force their way, 
and that at an early season, quite across the whole extent of the United 
States ; while some, of greater bodily magnitude, equal powers of flight, and 
similar courage, never reach so far, in fact merely enter our country or 
confine their journeys to half the distance to which the others reach. The 
diminutive Ruby-throated Humming-bird, the delicate Winter Wren, and 
many warblers, all birds of comparatively short flight, are seen to push their 
way from the West India Islands, or the table-lands of Mexico and South 
Yol. I. 32 
