which his tail is firmly pressed . He invariably faces the 
west but his head is kept moving or rolling from side to 
side in the manner of a Flycatcher’s. Were it not for, or 
indeed probably in spite of, this motion he would be surely 
taken for an Owl or Hawk while on his perch. 
At short irregular intervals — usually two or three 
times in a minute — he launches out after flying insects, 
flying in a perfectly straight line — usually ascending 
slightly — with firm and vigorous yet easy wing beats, 
his tail wide-spread. At the moment of reaching his prey 
he often turns sharply upward to secure it. He then wheels 
suddenly and returns to the stub by a long, slow, graceful 
glide and alights as already described. With very few 
exceptions his sallies are made to the northwest, west or 
southwest, when he often flies thirty or forty yards before 
reaching his mark and when on returning he invariably half 
encircles the stub before alighting. When he flies to the 
eastward it is only for the distance of a few yards. These 
facts show (l) that he cannot see his prey distinctly at 
any great distance except against the light in the west 
and (2) that he either cannot or does not like to turn on 
his perch after alighting. We have not yet watched him 
until he takes his final departure but there can be no 
doubt that this occurs before the night has wholly closed 
in, for we have repeatedly wisited the stub in the moonlight 
after the light has faded from th# west and not once has 
our bird been there. 
