THE SAY PEWEE. 



379 



townsitc and voices in unexpectant cailences the universal 3'earning for green 

 things and cessation of wind. 



A part of the drear impression made by this bird is occasioned by the 

 time of year wlien it puts in an ajipearance, March at the latest, and, once at 

 least, as early as February 20th (in Yakima County). Flies are an uncertain 

 crop at this season, and it is doubtless rather from a desire for shelter than 

 from inclination to society, that the species has so largely of late years re- 

 sorted to stables and outbuildings. Twenty years ago Sav's Pewee was im- 

 known as a tenant of buildings in Yakima 

 County. Now, there are few well-estab- 

 lished farms in that part of the State 

 which do not boast a pair somewhere 

 about the premises ; while hop-houses are 

 recognized as [iroxiding just that degree 

 of isolation which the l)ird really jsrefers. 

 Say's Pewee, for all its depressed 

 spirits, is an acti\'e bird, and makes fre- 

 quent sallies at passing insects. These 

 constitute its exclusive diet save in early 

 spring when, imder the spell of adverse 

 weather, dried berries are sought. But- 

 terflies .and moths are favorite food, but 

 grasshoppers and beetles are captured as 

 well; and the bird, in common with cer- 

 tain other flycatchers, has the power of 

 ejecting indigestible ehtra and leg-sheath- 

 ings in the form of pellets. 



The males arrive in spring some days in advance nf the females. Cnurtship 

 is animated in spite of the mejancholv procli\'ities of the Ijird : and the male 

 achieves a sort of song by repeating kii-tciv's rapidl}', on fluttering wing. 

 Besides this, in moments of excitement, both birds cry Look at 'ere. with 

 great distinctness. 



Eggs are laid by the loth of April and usually at least two broods are 

 raised, in this latitude. In the natural state these Pewees nest about cliffs, 

 at moderate heights, and in shallow caves. In selecting a site, they show a 

 decided preference for a clifl: which enjoys the protection of nesting Prairie 

 Falcons. A stout bracket of twigs, weed-fibers, lichens, and other soft sulj- 

 stances, is constructed, and a lu.xurii)us lining of wool and hair is supplied : 

 but the whole must be partiallv shielded bv some projecting tooth or facet of 

 stone, or artificial construction. 



The author in taking his first (and only) set of Say Pewee eggs selected a 

 nest on the south wall of Brook Lake, reached only bv canoe. The floor of an 



Photo by 

 the Author. 



SAY'S PEWEE. 



