HOODED FLYCATCHER. 
135 
black, composed of large irregular streaks ; back, wings, 
and tail, cinereous brown; vent, white ; upper mandible, 
dusky, lower, flefch coloured ; legs and feet, the same ; 
eye, hazel. 
Never having met with the female of this bird, I am 
unable, at present, to say in what its colours differ from 
those of the male. 
105 . SYLVIA MITRATA , LATH. - — MUSCICAPA CUCULLATA, WILSON. 
HOODED FLYCATCHER. 
WILSON, PLATE XXVI. FIG. III. — MALE. 
Why those two judicious naturalists, Pennant and 
Latham, should have arranged this bird with the warblers 
is to me unaccountable, as few of the muscicapce are 
more distinctly marked than the species now before us. 
The bill is broad at the base, where it is beset with 
bristles; the upper mandible, notched, and slightly over- 
hanging at the tip ; and the manners of the bird, in 
every respect, those of a flycatcher. This species is 
seldom seen in Pennsylvania and the northern States ; 
but through the whole extent of country south of Mary- 
land, from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, is very abun- 
dant. It is, however, most partial to low situations, 
where there is plenty of thick underwood ; abounds 
among the canes in the State of Tennesee, and in the 
Mississippi territory ; and seems perpetually in pursuit 
of winged insects ; now and then uttering three loud, 
not unmusical, and very lively notes, resembling twee , 
twee y twitchie , while engaged in the chase. Like almost 
all its tribe, it is full of spirit, and exceedingly active. 
It builds a very neat and compact nest, generally in the 
fork of a small bush, forms it outwardly of moss and 
flax, or broken hemp, and lines it with hair, and some- 
times feathers ; the eggs are five, of a grayish white, 
with red spots towards the great end. In all parts of 
the United States, where it inhabits, it is a bird of 
passage. At Savannah I met with it about the 20th of 
