Page:Natural History, Birds.djvu/117

104 are abundant; the manner in which these are taken is well described by White of Selborne, in his tenth Letter to Pennant. "There is," he observes, "one circumstance characteristic of this bird, which seems to have escaped observation, and that is, it takes its stand on the top of some stake or post, from whence it springs forth on its prey, catching a fly in the air, and hardly ever touching the ground, but returning still to the same stand for many times together." From this circumstance it is in some of the rural districts of England known as the "Post-bird." A dead branch, or the projecting twig of a tree, or the summit of a tall bush, or the angle of the roof of a house, is also not unfrequently chosen as the watch-post, the object being to secure a commanding range of observation on the surrounding air. The captured insect is never swallowed on the wing, but is held for a few seconds in the beak even after the return to the post. Insects have been supposed to be exclusively the food of this species, yet Sir William Jardine, whose accuracy of observation cannot be questioned, expressly asserts that he has occasionally seen it eat ripe cherries.

The Flycatcher is one of the least musical of British birds; its only note is a weak monotonous chirp or click; and this is uttered only while the season of incubation continues. The utterance, however, such as it is, frequently betrays the presence of the nest, which might else remain undiscovered.

The preparations for the bringing up of their family are commenced by the Flycatchers immediately on their arrival; for they have no time