348 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



on the whole throat and breast ; the hind part of the back, rump, and 

 tail strongly ferruginous." (Hist. N. Am. B.) 



The Pewee or Phoebe is one of that charming coterie of the 

 feathered tribe who cheer the abode of man with their presence. 

 Less numerous than the Chipping Sparrow, the Catbird, the Barn 

 Swallow, or even the Bluebird, there are still few farm-yards with- 

 out a pair of Pewees, who do the farmer much service by lessening 

 the number of flies about the barn, and by calling him to his work in 

 the morning with their cheery notes. 



Says Dr. Brewer : "This species is attracted both to the vicinity 

 of water and to the neighborhood of dwellings, probably for the 

 same reason the abundance of insects in either situation. They 

 are a familiar, confiding, and gentle bird, attached to localities, and 

 returning to them year after year. They build in sheltered situa- 

 tions, as under a bridge, under a projecting rock, in the porches of 

 houses, and in similar situations. I have known them to build on 

 a small shelf in the porch of a dwelling ; against the wall of a rail- 

 road station, within reach of the passengers ; and under a projecting 

 window-sill, in full view of the family, entirely unmoved by the 

 presence of the latter at meal time." 



Sayornis saya (Bonap.) 



SAY'S PHCEBE. 

 Popular synonyms. Say's Pewee; Say's Flycatcher; Eocky Mountain Pewee. 



Muscicapa *2/aBr. Am. Orn. i, 1825, 20, pi. 2, fig. 2. NUTT. Man. i, 1832, 277. AUD. 



Orn. Biog. iv, 1838, 428, pi. 359; Synop. 1839, 41; B. Am. i, 1840, 217, pi. 39. 

 Tyrannus saya NUTT. Man. 2d ed. i, 1840, 311. 

 Sauonii* ffii/ns BATED, B. X. Am. 1858, 185; Cat. X. Am. B. 1S59. Xo. 136.-CouES.Kry, 



1872, 172; Check List, 1S74, No. 250; 2d ed. 1882, Xo. 377, C'.sr; ///"); B. X. W. 1S74. 240. 



B. B. & E. Hist. N. Am. B. ii, 1874, 347, pi. 45, fig. 3. EIDGW. Nom. X. Am. B. 



1881, No. 316, ("sayi") 



HAB. Western North America from the Great Plains to the Pacific, north, in the in- 

 terior, to latitude 60; straggling east to Michigan, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois. In 

 winter, south to Vera Cruz, Mexico. 



"SP. CHAR. Above and on the sides of the head, neck, and Im-ast, grayish brown, 

 darker on the cr<>\vn; region aiioiit I lie eye dusky. The chin, throat, and upper part of 

 the breast similar to the back, but rather lighter and tinged with the color of the rest of 

 the lower parts, which are pale cinnamon. Under wing- coverts pale rusty white. The 

 wings of a rather deeper tint than the back, with the exterior vanes and tips of the quills 

 darker. Edges of the greater and secondary coverts, of the outer vane of the outer 

 primary, and <>f the secondaries and tertials, dull white. The upper tail-coverts and tail 

 nearly black. Edge of outer vane of exterior tail-feather white. Bill dark brown. 

 rather paler beneath The feet In-own. Second, third, and fourth quills nearly equal: 

 fifth nearly equal to sixth; sixth much shorter than the fifth. Tail broad, emarginatc. 

 Tarsi with a posterior row of scales Length, 7 inches; wing, 4.30; tail, 3.35. 



