_Setophaga ruticilla._
_Musicapa ruticilla_, +Linn.+—Aud. pl. 40.
_Motacilla flavicauda_, (_fem._) +Gmel.+
_Setophaga ruticilla_, +Sw.+
[44] Length of 5³⁄₈ inches, expanse 7¹⁄₂, flexure 2⁶⁄₁₀, tail 2¹⁄₄,
rictus ¹¹⁄₂₀, tarsus ⁸⁄₁₀, middle toe ⁵⁄₁₀.
The great family of Flycatchers are distinguished by their depressed
beak and rictal bristles, and by their general habit of capturing
flying insects on the wing, and returning to a resting place to
swallow them. The species, before us, however, a bird of remarkable
elegance, both of form and colour,—combines with this habit, those of
the Warblers; Wilson’s assertion to the contrary notwithstanding. It
is particularly restless, hopping from one twig to another through a
wood, so rapidly, that it is difficult to keep it in sight, though
conspicuous from its brilliant contrast of colours; yet it is not a
shy bird. A good deal of its insect food it obtains by picking it from
the twigs and flowers. About the end of the year, a male was in the
habit of frequenting the lawn of Bluefields House, day after day. In
the early morning, while the grass was yet wet with dews, it might be
seen running on the ground, at which time its long tail being raised
at a small angle, and the fore parts of its body depressed, it had
much of the aspect of a Wagtail. It ran with great swiftness hither
and thither, a few feet at a time, and during each run, the wings were
opened and vibrated in a peculiar flutter with great rapidity. It was,
I am sure, taking small insects, as now and then it turned short.
Sometimes, instead of running, it took a short flight, but still close
to the turf.
One which was wounded in the wing, I put into a cage; on the floor of
which it sat, looking wildly upwards, the beautiful tail being expanded
like a fan, so as to display the orange-colour on each side. All the
while it chirped pertinaciously, producing the sharp sound of two
quartz pebbles struck together.
This was the very first of the migrant visitors from the North that I
met with, a female having been killed in the mountains of St. Elizabeth
as early as the 10th of August. We lost sight of it again about the
20th of April; so that this species remains in the islands upwards of
eight months. Yet nearly four weeks before this, I observed a pair
engaged in amatory toying, pursuing each other to and fro among the
pimento trees.
On the 8th of May, 1838, being at sea in the Gulf of Mexico, not far
from the Dry Tortugas, a young male of this lovely species flew on
board. It would fly from side to side, and from rope to rope, as if
unwilling to leave the vessel, but occasionally it would stretch off to
a long distance, then turn round, and fly straight back again; it was
not at all exhausted. While I held it, it squeaked and bit at my hand
violently and fiercely.