Family Tymiinidce - - Phcebe 137 



open ground where insects are abundant, and selects 

 a good post of observation not very far from the 

 ground. From this he makes constant sallies, paus- 

 ing in mid air, and returning to his perch as if he 

 had suddenly changed his mind. If one be near 

 enough, however, one can hear the click of the 

 beak which announces the fate of the unhappy 

 insect in pursuit of which he dashed out. While 

 perched he has a characteristic fashion of flirting 

 his tail. Minot remarks, that in feeding from a 

 swarm of very small insects, he frequently hovers 

 with the body almost erect, and sustained by a 

 rapid beating of the wings. He is almost never to 

 be found upon the ground. 



The nest is placed on any projecting surface, 

 under the shelter of a bridge, ledge, or roof of a 

 building, or sometimes beneath a ledge of rock. 

 The bird is in the habit of coming back year after 

 year to the same place. Eggs are laid early in May, 

 and there are two sets. 



The note is a somewhat harsh and querulous one, 

 resembling the word phcebe. The first syllable is 

 smooth, the second rough and broken. 



Beside the common call-note . . . they have, during 

 the love season, a low, twittering song with which they 

 entertain their mates, but which is heard only w/ien 

 the birds are in company, and for a brief season. 

 NORTH AMERICAN* BIRDS. 



