Fly-catcher, a genus of birds belonging to the order of passerine. The bill is flattened at the base, almost triangular, notched at the upper mandible, and beset with bristles; the toes (generally) divided as far as their origin.

Vol. XII. Part II.

1. The grifola, or spotted fly-catcher, is about five inches and three quarters long. The head is large, of a brownish hue spotted obscurely with black; the back is of a mottled colour; the wings and tail are dusky; the breast and belly white; the throat and sides under the wings dished with red; the legs and feet are short and black. It is a bird of passage; appears here in the spring, breeds with us, and departs in September. It builds its nest against any part of a tree that will support it; often in the hollow caused by the decay of some large limb, hole in a wall, &c., also on old posts and beams of barns; and is found to return to the same place season after season. It lays four or five pale eggs marked with reddish. It feeds on insects, and collects them on the wing. When the young can fly, the old ones withdraw with them into thick woods, where they frolic among the top branches; dropping from the boughs frequently quite perpendicular on the flies that sport beneath, and rising again in the same direction. It will also take its stand on the top of some stake or post, from whence it springs forth on its prey, returning still to the same stand, for many times together. They feed also on cherries, of which they seem very fond.

2. The pondiciriana, Pondicherry or Coromandel fly-catcher, is rather bigger than a sparrow. The general colour of the upper parts is a cinereous grey; the throat, breast, and belly, white; the legs black. It inhabits the coast of Coromandel; where, from the agreeableness of its song, it is called the Indian nightingale.

3. The flabellifera, or fan-tailed fly-catcher, is in length six inches and a half; the head is black, which colour descends on the back part lower than the nape, whence it pales forward in a narrow collar to the throat; the chin, throat, and sides of the neck, except where this collar passes, are white; and over the eye is a white streak like an eye-brow; the upper parts of the body are olive-brown; the under parts yellowish rufus, growing whitish towards the vent; the tail is longer than the body; the two middle feathers black, the others white; the legs are dusky. This species inhabits the southern isle of New Zealand; where it is seen constantly hunting after insects, and flies always with its tail in shape of a fan. It is easily tamed; and will then sit on any person's shoulder, and pick off the flies. It has a chirping kind of note; and is called by the natives Diggo-wagh-wagh. There is a beautiful figure of this bird in Mr Latham's Synopsis, plate xlii.

4. The caribonensis, or cat-bird, is somewhat bigger than a lark: length eight inches. Bill black; the upper parts of the body and wings are of a deep brown; the under parts a dull-coloured; the crown of the head is black; the tail is blackish; and the legs are brown. This species is found in Virginia in the summer-season; where it frequents shrubs rather than tall trees, and feeds on insects: its cry resembles that of a cat, whence the English name given it by Catesby. See Plate CCCXX. fig. 1.

5. The crinita, or crested fly-catcher, is about the size of a lark; the head is crested, and of a dull green; the hind part of the neck and back are of the same colour; the under parts from the chin to the breast... Muscle. of an ash-colour, and from thence to the vent yellow; the legs are black. This inhabits Carolina and Virginia in summer; builds there, and departs in autumn.

6. The rubricollis, purple-throated fly-catcher, is about the size of a blackbird; the whole plumage is black; except the chin, throat, and fore part of the neck, on which is a large bed of beautiful crimson, inclining to purple; the legs are black.—These birds inhabit Cayenne and other parts of South America; where they are found in flocks, and precede in general the toucans in their movements. They feed on fruits and insects; and are lively birds, always in action. They for the most part frequent the woods, like the toucans; and where the first are found the others are seldom far off.

7. The rubra, or summer red-bird of Catesby, is a most beautiful species, somewhat bigger than a sparrow: the bill is yellowish; the eyes are black; the legs dusky: the male is wholly of a scarlet colour, except the tips of the quill-feathers, which are of a dusky red; the colour of the female is brown tinged with yellow. It inhabits Carolina and Virginia in the summer.

This is a very numerous genus; there being about 90 other species described by authors. In the Syb. Nat. (Gmelin), the whole number is 92; in Mr Latham's Index Ornithologicus, 97 are enumerated.