178 



THE PEWIT FLY-CATCHER. 



THE PEWIT FLY-CATCHER 



This familiar species inhabits the continent of North America, from 

 Canada and Lab- 

 rador to Texas, 

 retiring from the 

 Northern and Mid- 

 dle States at the 

 approach of winter, 

 liow far they pro- 

 ceed to the south 

 at this season is 

 not satisfactorily 

 ascertained ; a few, 

 no df_/ubt, winter in 

 the milder parts of 

 the Union, as Wil- 

 son saw them in 



February in the 

 swamps of North 

 and South Carolina, 

 where they were 

 feeding on smilax 

 berries, and occa- 

 s i o n all y even 

 giving their well- 

 known notes; 



THB PEWIT FLY-CATCHER. 



but in the winter, and early spring of 1830, while em- 

 ployed in an extensive pedestrian journey from South Carolina to 

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

 species. Audubon found them abundant in the Floridas in winter. 



This faithful messenger of spring returns to Pennsylvania as early 

 as the first week in March, remains till October, and sometimes nearly 

 to the middle of November. In Massachusetts, they arrive about the 

 beginning of April, and at first chiefly frequent the woods. 



Their favorite resort is near streams, ponds, or stagnant waters, 

 about bridges, caves, and barns, where they choose to breed ; and, in 

 short, wherever there is a good prospect for obtaining their insect 

 food. 



THE AMERICAN REDSTART. 



This beautiful and curious bird takes up its summer residence in 

 almost every part of the North American continent, being found in 

 Canada, in the remote interior near Eed river in the latitude of forty- 

 nine degrees, throughout Louisiana, Arkansas, and the maritime parts 

 of Mexico ; in a^ of which vast countries it familiarly breeds and re- 

 sides during the mild season, withdrawing early in September to trop- 



