4.4.0 LAND BIRDS 
are variously rendered as “ pree-pee-deer ” and “ whuish, 
whuish,” or “ huip, huip.” 
Although so busy, this Flycatcher is never so occupied 
as to miss a chance of driving another bird, great or small, 
away from the special clump of alders which the pug- 
nacious mite has preémpted for his own. When there 
is no one else within scrapping distance, he contents him- 
self with scolding his mate on the nest. Apparently 
nothing suits him from the time the nest site is chosen 
until the brood is reared. Capricious and variable, he 
places his nest anywhere that strikes his fancy, whether 
high up in the crotch of a sapling or close to the ground 
among heavy weed stalks. The materials used are fine, 
dry grasses, pine needles, plant down; and for lining, 
down and horsehair. About the middle of June both 
sexes may be seen bringing material to the chosen site, 
and too often one insists on scratching out the founda- 
tions laid by the other, until in this way a week is often 
consumed before the structure is complete. Only the 
mother bird broods in the beautiful nest ; the male simply 
straddling the edge in masculine helplessness when left 
in charge, looking very wise but really quite useless so 
far as keeping the eggs warm is concerned. In twelve 
days queer naked bits of bird life fill the cradle, and 
now the small brown master is full of importance. They 
are hungry ; away he darts for food, but the demand is 
ever greater than the supply. To satisfy those four open 
mouths means a trip every two minutes or oftener. No 
time has he now for scrapping or bullying his little wife. 
From early morn he must hustle, snatching time for a 
