MUSCICAPA, the flycatcher, in natu ral history, a genus of birds of the order Passeres. Generic character; bill flat tened at the base, nearly triangular, notched each side, at the root beset with bristles: toes, in general, divided to their origin. These birds are of eminent utility in warm climates, by preying upon the numerous insects which swarm in them, and which would otherwise multiply to an extent, occasioning the most severe and intolerable annoyance. Latham enu merates seventy-eight species, Gmelin ninety-seven, of which it will be sufficient to notice the following : M. grisola, or the spotted fly-catcher, arrives in England in the spring, and leaves it in September. It attaches its nest not unfrequently to the end of a beam of a house; and sometimes builds it in a vine or sweet briar tree, spread against a wall, and appears to feel no in convenience or alarm from the circum stance of many persons passing to the door, almost immediately tinder it, at eve ry hour in the day It returns for a suc cession of seasons to the same situation.
It feeds on insects, which it catches with astonishing dexterity, sometimes on the wing, sometimes by a sadden leap from its perch, always returning to its station with the object of its aim. It is one of the most silent and most familiar of sum mer birds. Its only note is a plaintive sound on the approach of danger. In Kent it is called the cherry-sucker, being par ticularly fond of that fruit.
M atricapella, or the pied fly-catcher, is not to be found in great numbers in any part of Great Britain, but is most fre quently to be met with in Yorkshire, and the contiguous counties. A nest belong ing to two birds of this species was taken in 1803, in Axwell Park, with a great number of young, and also the parent birds. The assiduity of the latter, which were almost unremittedly employed in taking flies for their numerous family, was highly interesting. The dexterity and attention of the male bird appeared most conspicuous. See Avas, Plate X. fig. 3.