136 PEWIT FLYCATCHER. 



In this cave I knew the Pewit to build for several years. The place 

 was solitary, and he was seldom disturbed. In the month of April, one 

 fatal Saturday, a party of boys from the city, armed with guns, dealing 

 indiscriminate destruction among the feathered tribes around them, di- 

 rected their murderous course this way, and within my hearing destroyed 

 both parents of this old and peaceful settlement. For two successive 

 years, and I believe to this day, there has been no Pewee seen about this 

 place. This circumstance almost convinces me that birds, in many in- 

 stances, return to the same spots to breed ; and who knows but like the 

 savage nations of Indians they may usurp a kind of exclusive right of 

 tenure to particular districts where they themselves have been reared ? 



The notes of the Pewee, like those of the Blue-bird, are pleasing, not 

 for any melody they contain, but from the ideas of spring and returning 

 verdure with all the sweets of this lovely season, which are associated 

 with his simple but lively ditty. Towards the middle of June he be- 

 comes nearly silent ; and late in the fall gives us a few farewell and 

 melancholy repetitions, that recall past imagery, and make the decayed 

 and withered face of nature appear still more melancholy. 



The Pewit is six inches and a half in length, and nine and a half 

 broad ; the upper parts are of a dark dusky olive ; the plumage of the 

 head, like those of the two preceding, is loose, subcrested, and of a deep 

 brownish black ; wings and tail deep dusky, the former edged on every 

 feather with yellowish white, the latter forked, and widening remarka- 

 bly towards the end ; bill formed exactly like that of the King-bird ; 

 whole lower parts a pale delicate yellow ; legs and bill wholly black ; 

 iris hazel. The female is almost exactly like the male, except in hav- 

 ing the crest somewhat more brown. This species inhabits from Canada 

 to Florida ; great numbers of them usually wintering in the two Caro- 

 linas and Georgia. In New York they are called the Phoeby-bird, and 

 are accused of destroying bees. With many people in the country, the 

 arrival of the Pewee serves as a sort of almanac, reminding them that 

 now it is time such and such work should be done. " Whenever the 

 Pewit appears," says Mr. Bartram, "we may plant peas and beans in 

 the open grounds, French beans, sow radishes, onions, and almost 

 every kind of esculent garden seeds, without fear or danger from frosts ; 

 for although we have sometimes frosts after their first appearance for a 

 night or two, yet not so severe as to injure the young plants."* 



* Travels, page 288. 



