PEWIT FLYCATCHER, OR PHGEBE. 279 



Alabama, I never heard or met with an individual of the 

 species. 



This faithful messenger of spring returns to Pennsylva- 

 nia as early as the first week in March, remains till 

 October, and sometimes nearly to the middle of Novem- 

 ber. In Masachusetts, they arrive about the beginning 

 of April, and at first chiefly frequent the woods. 



Their favorite resort is near streams, ponds, or stag- 

 nant waters, about bridges, caves, and barns, v/here they 

 choose to breed ; and, in short, wherever there is a good 

 prospect for obtaining their insect food. Near such 

 places our little hunter sits on the roof of some out-build- 

 ing, on a stake of the fence, or a projecting branch, call- 

 ing out, at short intervals, and in a rapid manner pliehe 

 phebt, and at times in a more plaintive tone phee-bh-ee- 

 This quaint and querulous note, occasionally approaching 

 to a warble, sometimes also sounds like pewait pewait, 

 and then J) e-wai-ee, a.\so, pkebt phe-bec-ee, twice alternated, 

 the latter phrase somewhat soft and twittering. In the 

 spring this not unpleasing guttural warble is kept up for 

 hours together, until late in the morning, and though not 

 loud, may be heard to a considerable distance. From a 

 roof I have heard these notes full half a mile across the 

 water of a small lake ; and this cheerful, though monoto- 

 nous ditty, is only interrupted for a few seconds, as the 

 performer darts and sweeps after his retreating prey of 

 flies, frequently flirting and quivering his tail and ele- 

 vating his feathery cap, while sharply watching the mo- 

 tions of his fickle game. 



In the Middle States he begins to construct his nest 

 about the latter end of March, in Massachusetts not be- 

 fore the first week in April. The nest is situated under 

 a bridge, in a cave, the sides of a well 5 or 6 feet down, 

 under a shed, or in the shelter of the low eaves of a cot- 



