THE SAY PEWEE. 



379 



tovvnsite and ^■oices in unexpcctant cadences the universal yearning for green 

 things and cessation of wind. 



A part of the drear impression made by this bird is occasioned by the 

 time of year wlien it puts in an appearance, March at the latest, and, once at 

 least, as early as February 20th (in Yakima County). Flies are an uncertain 

 cro]) at tills season, and it is doubtless rather from a desire for shelter tlian 

 fnmi inclination to society, that the species has so largely of late years re- 

 sorted to stables and outbuildings. Twenty years ago Say's Pewee was un- 

 known as a tenant of buildings in Yakima 

 County. Now, there are few well-estab- 

 lished farms in that jiart of the State 

 which do not boast a pair somewhere 

 about the premises: while hop-houses are 

 recognized as providing just that degree 

 of isolation which the bird really prefers. 

 Say's Pewee, for all its depressed 

 spirits, is an active bird, and makes fre- 

 quent sallies at passing insects. These 

 constitute its exclusive diet save in early 

 spring when, under the spell of adverse 

 weather, dried berries are sought. But- 

 terflies and moths are favorite food, but 

 grasshoppers and beetles are captured as 

 well ; and the bird, in common with cer- 

 tain other flycatchers, has the power of 

 ejecting indigestible elytra and leg-sheath- 

 ings in the form of ])ellets. 



The males arrive in s])ring some days in ad\'ance of the females. Cnurtship 

 is animated in spite of the melancholy proclivities of the bird: and the male 

 achie\es a sort of song by repeating kii-tav's. rapidly, on fluttering wing. 

 Besides this, in moments of excitement, both birds cry Lock ol 'err. with 

 great distinctness. 



Eggs are laid liy ilu- loth of April and u.sually at least two broods are 

 raised, in this latitude. In the natural state these Pewees nest about cliffs, 

 at moderate heights, and in shallow caves. In selecting* site, they show a 

 decided preference for a cliff which enjoys the protection of nesting Prairie 

 Falcons. A stout bracket of twigs, weed-fibers, lichens, and other soft sub- 

 stances, is constructed, and a luxurious lining of wool and hair is supplied : 

 but the wliole must be partially sliielded b\- sonic prrijecting tooth or facet of 

 stone, or artificial construction. 



The author in taking his first (and only) set of Say Pewee eggs selected a 

 nest on the south wall of Brook Lake, reached only by canoe. The floor of an 



Photo by 

 the Author. 



S.AVS PEWEE. 



