The COLLARED or WHITE-NECKED FLY-CATCHER (_Muscicapa albicollis_) is
frequently mistaken for the preceding species, the females especially
bearing a most deceptive resemblance to each other. The adult male,
however, is recognisable by a white ring around the throat, and the
female is without the light edging to the tail-feathers. Both these
Mourning Fly-catchers inhabit Europe, the latter being numerously met
with in its most southern countries, but comparatively rarely seen in
the more northern portions; whilst the former frequents every part of
the European continent, making its appearance at the end of April, and
leaving again about September: their migrations often extend as far
as Central Africa, and are usually carried on at night: the males are
always the first to leave, and generally return to Europe before their
mates. Both species are extremely lively, passing the entire day, when
the weather is fine, in pursuing their prey, or chasing each other in
sportive evolutions through the air, or hopping nimbly from twig to twig,
meanwhile uttering their twittering call-note. Even when perched, their
little bodies are kept in constant motion by the incessant agitation of
their wings and tail. The song of these birds is generally to be heard
long before sunrise, when all their feathered companions are still
asleep; and we are therefore inclined to listen to their voices with a
pleasure and attention, occasioned rather by the circumstances under
which their penetrating and somewhat melancholy notes are uttered, than
from any intrinsic merits of their music; during the breeding season,
however, the male sings agreeably and energetically throughout the
day. Both these species of Fly-catchers subsist upon the same kinds of
insects, and, should their ordinary food fall short, have recourse to
various berries, or they glean small beetles from the leaves of the
trees. Like all birds that live in a state of constant activity, they
are extremely voracious, and devour enormous quantities of grasshoppers,
horse-flies, butterflies, gnats, and other insects, always seizing their
prey upon the wing, even should the victim be creeping on a leaf, or
running over the ground. The nests are usually made in hollow trees, and
are padded with a layer of moss and fibres, lined with feathers, wool,
and hair. Should a hollow tree not be attainable, the nest is built upon
some branch quite close to the trunk. The brood consists of five or
six delicate-shelled, pale greenish eggs; these are incubated by both
parents, and are hatched within a fortnight after they are laid. In three
weeks' time the nestlings are fledged, but they remain for a considerably
longer period under parental care and guidance. In some countries boxes
are often placed in gardens in order to attract the breeding pairs; and
so tame do the families thus reared become, that they will even allow the
boxes to be moved from one place to another, without either leaving them
or testifying any uneasiness. When caged, they soon attach themselves to
those who feed them, and will take flies from the hand: Nightingales'
food suits them best when they are subjected to a life of confinement.
Large numbers of these useful birds are caught by the Italians, in a
variety of nets and snares, during the time of their autumn migrations,
and hundreds of them are exposed for sale as dainty morsels in every
market-place. In ancient times Fly-catchers were sent from Cyprus to
Italy prepared in spice and vinegar, and closely packed in pots or small
casks.