286 SAYOENIS FUSCUS — PEWEE, OR PHCEBE BIRD. 



The migrations of this bird are always performed, accord- 

 ing to Audubon, at night, and this is the case with a great 

 many birds, that, at all other times, are day flyers only. 

 A reason for this may be that they are less liable to attack, 

 at such times, from the rapacious species that hover in 

 numbers on the skirts of migrating flocks. But why some 

 species should do so, and not others, is rather strange. 



The flight of the Phcebe is a sort of fluttering motion, 

 interrupted by a gliding or sailing. When it alights, it 

 erects its crest, and jerks up the tail, with a sort vibritory 

 spring. When pursuing insects it can urge its flight to a 

 considerable speed. 



The nest is composed of mud, with grass and straw, and 

 lined with i'eathers, and is often built on the face of a rock, 

 in the manner of some swallows; also on the rafters of a 

 barn, or other outhouse; sometimes beneath the porch of 

 a dwelhng house, and the bird seems no ways disturbed 

 by the movements of the lamily. It resembles that of the 

 swallow. 



The eggs are white, usually six, are hatched in thirteen 

 days, and the young leave the nest in about sixteen. The 

 parents assist each other in the labor of incubation, and 

 the male is very attentive and faithful to his partner. The 

 same pair often return to the old nest, year after year, and 

 after making a few repairs, raise a new family within it. 

 Occasionally two broods are raised in a season, and this 

 is often the case farther south. 



They pass the winter in Florida, and along the Gulf of 

 Mexico, returning to us often before the snow is entirely 

 gone. The food consists of insects of all kinds, and it may 

 therefore be looked upon as a beneficial and useful species 

 to the farmer and gardener. 



The color of the S. fuscus is dull olive brown on the 

 upper parts and sides of the breast, becoming paler towards 

 the tail. Head dark brown, with a few whitish feathers 



