hole of a tree, sometimes at a considerable height, occasionally
in the stump of a felled tree. In texture and

kcap, and Whitethroat, being but

We have invariably found their nests in the
, and, for two successive years,
ar to those of the Greater Pettychaps, Blac
fibrous roots and dried grass, always lined with a
side, but entirely without moss. Their eggs

near the surface of the ground
formation the nest is very simil
slightly put together, composed almost €
little hair, and generally a few decayed leave
: found their nest with five, six, and
eggs of the Redstart, that it
ir from being so elegantly made, of a rounder

ntirely of small
s on the outer
vary in number: we have now and then with seven; their colour a pale
green; and they so greatly resemble the
guish them, unless contrasted together 5 they are,
less, weighing from 23 to 30 grains.
ieee sit for a considerable time on the decayed branch of a tree, constantly
every now and then interrupted by

is frequently very difficult to distin-

however, fi
form, and rather Should the weather be at all favourable, the males,
soon after their arrival, will frequently
d, although far from unpleasing song,

repeating their short, little-varie
Their alarm-note 1s not very unlike the word chuck, which

the pursuit and capture of some passing insect.
they commonly repeat two or three times when appr
The manners and habits of the Pied Flycatcher have consi
arrive about the same time, associate together, and often build it
On one occasion we found a dead female Redstart
and at another time, when both species had nests within
art took forcible possession of the Flycatcher’s nest,

oached, and which readily leads to their detection.
derable affinity to those of the Redstart: they
1 the same holes, for which they will
eerie contend. in the nest of a Pied Flycatcher
containing two eggs ; a few inches of each other,
upon the Redstarts being removed, the female Redst
incubated the eggs, and brought up the young.”

«Mr. Blackwall has recorded a very interesting instance in which a pair of Pied Flycatchers, imitating
the more familiar habits of the other species, took up their residence, and for a long series of years incubated
their eggs and nurtared their young in security, in a small aperture close by the portico to the principal
entrance of his father’s residence in Denbighshire, undisturbed apparently by the frequent passing and
repassing of its inmates, until they were driven out by a swarm of bees, which took possession of the hole. ”
(Hewitson’s Eggs of British Birds, 2nd edit. vol. i. p. IT)

One of the nests sent to me by Admiral Mitford was exteriorly composed of dried grass, moss, and a
quantity of spider’s web, whilst the interior was wholly composed of fine roots.

M. Bailly, in his ‘ Ornithologie de la Savoie,’ states that “the Pied Flycatcher visits Switzerland and Savoy
at the same time as the Collared species (Muscicapa albicollis), but is much more common both in spring
and autumn. It appears in couples, or in little flights of three, five, or six following each other, in which it
is usually seen on the borders of small woods, along avenues bordered with trees or high bushes, and even
in gardens and orchards. It evinces but little mistrust, and so little fear of man that it captures small
insects flying immediately round him. ‘There is no part of Savoy where it is so common during the period
of incubation as in the Lower Tarantaise and in the outskirts of Albertville. There is not a wood nor an
orchard in which, at that time, it may not be found. It moreover occurs in Chamonix and Chablais, but
never so numerously. Small numbers only occur in the basin of Chambery, except at the time of migration,
when in certain years it is excessively common. During the period of incubation the male brings food to
its companion, and sits in turn upon the eggs; at all other times it does not cease to utter its song,
which is animated, but very short, and almost entirely composed of piercing notes: its warning-cry and
that of autumn are composed of the same notes, uttered one at a time, with an interval of come seconds
pect At the end a September it is commonly seen at Chambery, upon the lines of the promenade
of ¥ erney, along the willows and the copses bordering the river Albanne, the torrent of Laisse, and the
neighbouring ditches from the Boise to Bourget. Its flesh is excellent in autumn, during which season it
feeds not only on numerous flying insects, but also on the fruits or berries of the elder, briar, mulberry
and fig.” j : a
ee eee trie Baan: ee ee foe . plumage the males have all the inter-
Py ones cid becoines ae pee nce Be probably occasioned the belief that the male

¢ 1 winter.

The Plate represents a male, a female, and young, of the size of life.