Species III. MUSCICAPA NUNCIOLA* 



PEWIT FLYCATCHER. 



[Plate XIII. Fig. 4.] 



Bartram, p. 289. — Black-cap Flycatcher^ Lath. Syn. ii., 353. — Phcebe Flycatcher, 

 Ibid. Sup. p. 173. — Le gobe-mouche noirdtre de la Caroline, Buff, iv., 541. — 

 Arct. Zool. p. 387, No. 269. 



This well-known bird is one of our earliest spring visitants, arriving 

 in Pennsylvania about the first week in March, and continuing with us 

 until October. I have seen them here as late as the 12th of November. 

 In the month of February I overtook these birds lingering in the low 

 swampy woods of North and South Carolina. They were feeding on 

 smilax berries and chanting occasionally their simple notes. The fa- 

 vorite resort of this bird is by streams of water, under, or near bridges, 

 in caves, &c. Near such places he sits on a projecting twig, calling out 

 pe-zvee, pe-wit-titee pe-wee, for a whole morning ; darting after insects, 

 and returning to the same twig; frequently flirting his tail, like the 

 wagtail, though not so rapidly. He begins to build about the 20th or 

 25th of March, on some projecting part under a bridge— in a cave — in 

 an open well five or six feet down among the interstices of the side 

 walls — often under a shed — in the low eaves of a cottage, and such like 

 places. The outside is composed of mud mixed with moss ; is generally 

 large and solid ; and lined with flax and horse hair. The eggs are five, 

 pure white, with two or three dots of red near the great end. See fig. 

 4. I have known them rear three broods in one season. 



In a particular part of Mr. Bartram's woods, with which I am ac- 

 quainted, by the side of a small stream, is a cave, five or six feet high, 

 formed by the undermining of the water below, and the projection of 

 two large rocks above : 



There down smooth glistening rocks the rivulet pours, 



Till in a pool its silent waters sleep, 

 A dark browed cliff, o'ertopped with fern and flowers, 



Hangs, grimly louring, o'er the glassy deep ; 

 Above through every chink the woodbines creep, 



And smooth-barked beeches spread their arms ai'ound, 

 Whose roots cling twisted round the rocky steep ; 



A more sequestered scene is nowhere found, 

 For contemplation deep, and silent thought profound. 



Muscicapa fusca, Gmel. i., p. 931. — ^Lath. 7nd. Orn. ii., p. 483. 



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