SONGLESS BIRDS. Flycatchera 



Phoebe : Sayornis phcehcm 



Water Fewee. 

 Plate 42. Fig. 1. 



Length : 6.75-7.25 inches. 



Male and Female : Above deep olive-brown ; straight black bill. 

 Outer edges of some tail feathers -whitish ; an erectile crest. 

 Beneath dingy yellowish white ; feet black. 



Note : " Phcebee, phoebee, pewit, phceb6e ! " 



Season : April to October. Common summer resident. 



Breeds : From the Carolinas northward. 



Nest : In its native woods the nest is of moss, mud, and grass brack- 

 eted on a rock, near or over running water ; but in the vicinity 

 of settlements and villages, it is placed on a horizontal bridge 

 beam, timber supporting porch or shed. 



Eggs: Pure white, somewhat spotted. 



Mange : Eastern North America, from the British Provinces south to 

 eastern Mexico and Cuba, wintering from the South Atlantic 

 and Gulf States southward. 



The cheerful Phoebe, the first to come and the last to 

 leave of its tribe, can be distinguished by its sociability as 

 well as its musical cry. To those who are familiar with, 

 the domestic Phcebe, who builds his bulky moss nest at 

 their very door, and who associate him with the Wren in 

 his love of nooks in the outbuildings, it will seem strange 

 to know that in his primitive state he haunts dim woods 

 and running water. The domesticated Phoebe is a great 

 bather, and may be seen in the half-light dashing in and 

 out of the water as he makes trips to and from his nest. 



Here in the garden this bird frequently exhibits its love 

 of water, and after the young are hatched in the various 

 nests, both old and young repair to a maple near the pool, 

 and disport themselves about the water until moulting-time. 

 It is very amusing to watch them as they flash down, one 

 by one, for a dip or an insect, taking both on the wing 

 without a pause. 



Do not let the Phoebes build under the hoods of your win- 

 dows, for their spongy nests harbour innumerable bird-lice, 

 and under such circumstances your fly-screens will become 

 infested and the house invaded. 



186 



