Some Nesting Habits of the Wood Pewee 157 



was not seen to approach the nest until the late afternoon at the close of a wind 

 and rain storm, — perhaps to see whether or not all things were still in order, for 

 on the nest she busied herself again in smoothing the inner walls and placing 

 aright the blue-gray lichens. 



While watching the feeding habits this da\-, it occurred to me to ask whether 

 the Pewee feeds onl\- on the smallest insects. Never, at any time, could I see any 

 insect that evidently was seized. In all the time of my observation, I did not see 

 the Pewee pursue moths, as the Kingbird was seen to do, though there were 

 moths to be had for the taking. 



On July 19 both birds were seen. Incubation began either on the 19th or 

 20th, but, since almost no observations were made on the 19th, I could not be sure 

 of the day. On the 20th the song of the male was heard early and frequently 

 for some hours. Often both birds were seen together at the nest. This day was 

 a repetition of the flights and returns to the nest described earlier — until the middle 

 of the afternoon. Then, after all the long, careful work of building and after 

 so short a time from completion, the tragedy came. For, on looking from the 

 window, I saw a robber Blue Jay standing over the nest, deliberately devouring 

 the eggs even to the shell. 



Insolent in his attitude, probably because the Pewee was helpless before 

 his greater size, he seemed not to heed the cries of the tiny bird uttered again 

 and again — the cry that I had heard at times before, but only now knew to be 

 the cry of distress. 



Another nesting had ended — this time, I knew, in a tragedy; perhaps the 

 other had ended so, for the birds had hardly shown themselves so much averse 

 to being watched as I had thought to tind them. 



The next morning the Pewee sang and sang again as if nothing had happened; 

 but, then, one may as well sing. 



For one moment the bird was on the nest again, on the 21st, and I hoped that 

 the nesting was to continue. Both birds were seen about the tree on the 22nd. 

 A Jay again approaching the nest, the male, presumabl}', defended it against 

 him, and again I hoped that the nesting might continue and undisturbed. But 

 from that time the nest was abandoned. 



After remaining until weather-worn, and ragged, the nest was taken down 

 from the limb. But even weather-worn it is beautiful — a tiny cup of pine-needles 

 covered close with lichens. 



