316 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



Geog. Dist. — Eastern North America, west to the Plains, Indian Territory 

 and Texas, and from Florida to Newfoundland in the breeding season ; 

 wintering from Mexico and Central America to Columbia and Ecuador. 



County Records. — Androscoggin ; fairly common summer resident, (John- 

 son). Aroostook; quite common summer resident, found north to the 

 Woolastook, (Knight). Cumberland; common summer resident, (Mead). 

 Franklin ; common summer resident, (Swain). Hancock; common summer 

 resident, (Knight). Kennebec; quite common summer resident, (Gardiner 

 Branch). Knox; rare in summer, (Rackliff). Oxford; common, breeds, 

 (Nash). Penobscot; common summer resident, (Knight). Piscataquis; 

 common summer resident, (Homer). Sagadahoc ; summer resident, 

 (Spinney). Somerset; common summer resident, (Morrell). Waldo; com- 

 mon summer resident, (Knight). Washington; not uncommon summer 

 resident, (Boardman). 



May 21 to September 4 is the period during which this 

 species occurs in the State. It is rather common in open 

 mixed woods, and also in the wooded parks and tree-lined city 

 streets. Here during the early summer days the species may 

 be heard calling "pee-a-wee" which in later summer becomes 

 uttered in a more drawling tone "pee a wee" or some- 

 times "pee-a wu" uttered in the most disconsolate tone 



imaginable. I have also heard the call "kitchee-kit" uttered 

 in a warbling tone by the male as he chased the female. 



The nest is saddled on a limb of some hardwood tree such 

 as elm or maple in the city streets, and oak, beech or maple in 

 the forests, generally at a height of forty to fifty feet, while it 

 also nests commonly in orchards, placing the nest in apple trees 

 at from ten to fifteen feet elevation. Though the male is 

 generally on hand to offer his oft repeated words of advice, 

 he does not seem to do any active work, either at nest 

 building or assisting in incubation, but I have however seen 

 him feed the female more or less frequently while she was 

 sitting. 



The eggs are three or four in number, pale white to cream 

 color, spotted and blotched in the form of a wreath about the 

 larger end with brown, umber, purple, chestnut and lavender. 

 I have seen one set of eggs which was wreathed about the smaller 

 end. 



