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T R A I L L ' S F L Y - C A T C H E R.
MUSCÍCAPA TRAILLII.
P L A T E X L V . MALE.
THIS is a species which, in its external appearance, is so closely allied
to the Wood Pezoee, and the small Green-crested Fly-catcher, that the
most careful inspection is necessary to establish the real differences existing
between these three species. Its notes, however, are perfectly different,
as are, in some measure, its habits, as well as the districts in
which it resides.
The notes of Traill's Fly-catcher consist of the sounds wheet, wheet,
which it articulates clearly while on wing. It resides in the skirts of the
woods along the prairie lands of the Arkansas river, where alone I have
been able to procure it. When leaving the top branches of a low tree,
this bird takes long flights, skimming in zigzag lines, passing close over
the tops of the tall grasses, snapping at and seizing different species of
winged insects, and returning to the same trees to alight. Its notes, I
observed, were uttered when on the point of leaving the branch. The
pair chased the insects as if acting in concert, and doubtless had a nest in
the immediate neighbourhood, although I was unable to discover it. It
being in the month of April, I suspected the female had not begun to lay.
Five of the eggs in the ovary were about the size of green pease. I could
not perceive any difference in the colouring of the plumage between the
sexes, and I have represented the male in that inclined and rather crouching
attitude which I observed the bird always to assume when alighted.
I have named this species after my learned friend Dr THOMAS
STEWART TRAILL of Liverpool, in evidence of the gratitude which I
cherish towards that benevolent gentleman for all his kind attentions to
me.
The Sweet Gum, on a branch of which I have placed Traill's Flycatcher,
grows in almost every portion of the western and southern districts
of the United States. It sometimes attains a great size, but is
more commonly of moderate stature. Its wood is of little use. This
tree is frequently found with a cork-like bark protruding in shreds from
its branches.
TRAILL'S FLY-CATCHER. 237
M U S C Í C A P A T R A I L L I I .
Plate XLV. Adult Male.
Bill of ordinary length, depressed, tapering to a point, the lateral outlines
a little convex, very broad at the base; the gap reaching to nearly
under the eye; upper mandible with the edges acute, slightly notched
close upon the tip, which is a little deflected and acute; lower mandible
straight, acute. Nostrils basal, lateral, elliptical. Head and neck of
moderate size. Body rather slender. Feet of moderate length, slender;
tarsus compressed, covered anteriorly with short scutella, and longer than
the middle toe; toes free, scutellate above; claws compressed, arched,
acute.
Plumage soft and tufty ; feathers of the head narrow and erectile.
Wings of moderate length, third quill longest. Tail longish, slightly
forked when closed, of twelve rather narrow, obtuse feathers.
Bill dark brown above, yellow beneath. Iris hazel. Feet brownishblack.
The general colour of the plumage above is dull brownish-olive,
the two rows of larger wing-coverts tipped with dull white. Throat
greyish-white, as is a very narrow space around the eye; sides of the head
and neck, and fore part of the breast, coloured like the back, but lighter;
the rest of the under parts dull yellowish-white.
Length 5f inches, extent of wings 8 | ; bill along the ridge along
gap I ; tarsus fa
As already mentioned, this species bears a very close resemblance to
Muscícapa acadica, and M. virens, more especially the former.
Muscícapa virens has the tail deeply emarginate, whereas in the present
species that part is nearly even. The colouring is nearly the same
in both, but M. virens is considerably larger.
Muscícapa acadica is also similarly coloured, but in it the whitish
space about the eye is larger, the throat darker, the breast and abdomen
lighter. The tail also is quite even. A decided difference exists in the
bill, which, in place of being convex in its lateral outlines, is a little
concave.