GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 
59 
found in white plumage ; and I believe that such birds 
do not become so by climate, age, or disease, but that 
they are universally hatched so. The same phenomena 
are observable not only among various sorts of animals, 
but even among the human race ; and a white negro is 
no less common, in proportion to their numbers, than a 
white blackbird; though the precise cause of this in 
either is but little understood. 
75 . MUSCICAPA CRINJTA , LINNiEUS AND WILSON. 
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. 
WILSON, PL. XIII. FIG. II. 
The bird now before us is less generally known than 
the preceding, being chiefly confined to the woods. 
There his harsh squeak , for he has no song, is occa- 
sionally heard above most others. He also visits the 
orchard ; is equally fond of bees ; but wants the courage 
and magnanimity of the king bird. He arrives in 
Pennsylvania early in May, and builds his nest in a 
hollow tree, deserted by the bluebird or woodpecker. 
The materials of which this is formed are scanty, and 
rather novel. One of these nests, now before me, is 
formed of a little loose hay, feathers of the Guinea fowl, 
hogs’ bristles, pieces of cast snake skins, and dogs’ hair. 
Snake skins with this bird appear to be an indispensable 
article, for I have never yet found one of his nests 
without this material forming a part of it. Whether 
he surrounds his nest with this by way of terrorem , to 
prevent other birds or animals from entering ; or whe- 
ther it be that he finds its silky softness suitable for his 
young, is uncertain ; the fact, however, is notorious. 
The female lays four eggs of a dull cream colour, thickly 
scratched with purple lines of various tints as if done 
with a pen. 
This species is eight inches and a half long, and thir- 
teen inches in extent; the upper parts are of a dull 
greenish olive ; the feathers on the head are pointed, 
centred with dark brown, ragged at the sides, and form 
