The Wood Pewee (Myiochanes virens) 

 By Herman C. De Groat 



Lciii^-ih : (>' J inches. 



Range: Eastern North .\nierica to the Plains, and from Canada to southern 

 states. 



l-"ood : Mostly insects. 



The Pewee is a true Hycatcher. Perched on the dead branch of a tree, it 

 waits for a winged insect to come near. Suddenly the bird rises on the wing and 

 dashes off a few feet after a gnat, fly or btig, which it captures with a snap of 

 the bill. Turning quickly with a flourish, it is back again on the same perch 

 in a moment. Here it will again settle into a condition of seeming indifference 

 to everything about it, but it is, nevertheless, thoroughly awake, for in the next 

 instant it is off again for another hapless insect. This feat is repeated many 

 times from the same spot hour after hour. Indeed, when one of these birds 

 has found a branch to its liking, it may perch upon it day after day to watch 

 for insects. 



While waiting, it utters a low ])laintive cry of pee-a-wee, pee-a-wee. which is 

 long drawn out. This is among the first bird-notes at daybreak and the last at 

 nightfall. Even in the heat of noonday when most other birds are silent, the 

 sweet, sad song of the Pewee is heard. The bird is sometimes found in a shady 

 orchard but its favorite home is the deep woods where it usually nests. 



After wintering in Central America, it is a late migrant, for it does not reach 

 north until the end of May. It raises but one brood which is not hatched before 

 the last of June. It remains north until the last of September. 



And No Birds Sing 



By Mildred Howells 



There comes a season when the bird is still 

 Save for a broken note, so sad and strange, 



Its plaintive cadence makes the woodlands thrill 

 With sense of coming change. 



Stirred into ecstasy by spring's new l)irth, 

 In throbbing rhapsodies of hope and love. 



He shared his transports with the listening earth 

 And stormed the heavens above 



But now how should he sing — forlorn, alone — 

 Of hopes that withered with the waning year, 



An em]>ty nest with mate and fledgelings flown, 

 .\nd winter drawing near? 



154 



