SAYIORNIS FUSCA: PEWEE ; PHCEBE-BIRD. 2$ 



artificial nesting sites so convenient that the bird habitu- 

 ally avails itself of these facilities. The original " typical " 

 situation is the side of an upright rock, usually over water, 

 and often itself dripping; the nest being affixed either 

 to the open face of the stone, or beneath a projecting 

 shelf, or in a cranny or retiring angle. Other sites 

 frequently selected are the sides of earthen embank- 

 ments or cuts, such as a Bank Swallow or Kingfisher 

 might burrow in ; or the roots of upturned trees, with 

 plenty of earth clinging to them. The eaves and 

 rafters of buildings now furnish the usual substitutes. 

 The nest resembles a fourth of a sphere, applied by a 

 vertical flat surface to the support, with another surface 

 horizontal and hollowed out — the curved contour being 

 somewhat elongated downward. The nest is built, like 

 that of the Barn Swallow, of mixed mud and vegetable 

 substances, but is much neater and more compact ; moss 

 usually enters largely into its composition, and those 

 nests which are placed on wet rocks near the water, in 

 the cool, moist, shady nooks the bird loves so well, are 

 often composed chiefly of moss and mud, which may be 

 artistically stuccoed with lichens. Two and even three 

 broods may be reared under favorable conditions in one 

 season. The first set of eggs is usually completed early 

 in May, and another some time in June. The eggs are 

 ordinarily four or five in number, measuring about 0.70X 

 0.52; they are normally pure white and unmarked, 

 though in some cases sprinkled with a few dots. The 

 attachment of the Pewit to particular places is a marked 

 trait. A pair will return year after year to re-occupy the 

 same home in preference to any other equally eligible 

 nesting site ; and their perseverance in building under the 

 most discouraging circumstances is no less remarkable. 



