Chapter IV 

 FLYCATCHERS 



'I quit the search, and sat me down 

 Beside the brook irresolute, 

 And watched a little bird in suit 

 Of sober olive, soft and brown. 



*Dear bird,' I said, 'what is thy name?* 

 And thrice the mournful answer came, 

 So faint and far, and yet so near, — 

 Te-wee! pe-wee! pe-wee!' " 



— The Pewee, Trowbridge. 



The Flycatcher family receives its name 

 from the common habit among its members of 

 catching various insects upon which they feed 

 exclusively. As their food supply is cut off by 

 cold weather, except the Phoebe, they winter 

 below the frost belt and are rather late arrivals. 

 There are some thirty varieties throughout the 

 United States, seven or eight of which are com- 

 mon in the Eastern States. They bear strong 

 family resemblance in color and form, as well 

 as in feeding habits. They are not good singers, 

 only one variety, the Wood Pewee, having notes 

 that could be classed as musical. 



Phoebe. This bird has another common 

 name, Pewee, or Bridge Pewee, from its liking of 

 an old bridge as a nesting place. Phoebe is a 

 good example of the influence of amiable ways 

 in making friends; although neither specially 



07 



