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134 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
ing. The nest is usually placed under a bridge, sometimes 
under an eave, or ledge of rock, sometimes in a barn 
or other building. It is constructed of fine roots, grasses, 
fine moss, and hairs, which are plastered together, and 
to the object the nest is built on, by pellets of mud: it is 
hollowed about an inch and a half, and lined with soft 
erasses, wool, and feathers. The eggs are usually five in 
number: their color is white, with a very delicate cream tint. 
There are usually in each litter one or two eggs with a few 
spots thinly scattered over the larger end: these spots are 
of a reddish-brown. The period of incubation is thirteen 
days, and two broods are often reared in the season in this 
latitude. The length of eggs varies from .72 to .78 inch; 
breadth, from .54 to .56 inch. 
The familiar cheerful habits of this species, and the fact 
that it is one of the first birds to remind us of the return 
of spring, have made it a universal favorite; and many 
residents in the country are so attached to it, that they 
protect it, and encourage its visits, and even provide 
quarters for the establishment of its nest. It seems to pre- 
fer the neighborhood of a pond or stream of water for its 
home, where, perching on the branch of an overhanging 
tree, or on the railing of a bridge, or darting about in dif- 
ferent directions, it busies itself through the day in catching 
the insects that swarm in myriads in such localities. When 
perching, it frequently flirts its tail, and erects the feathers 
of its head, uttering the notes phebé-phebée in a soft 
plaintive key. Sometimes, this note is more lively, resem- 
bling the word pewéet, pewéet, uttered in a quick, cheerful 
manner. The beautiful description of the habits of this 
bird, given by Audubon, is certainly one of the best efforts 
of that naturalist; and I would advise all who are interested 
in the history of the bird to read it. 
After the young have left the nest, the parents remain 
together in the neighborhood of their home until their 
departure, about the middle of October. At this time, they 
