Birds of Indiana. 865 



A coumiuu suimiior resident in woods, pastures, orchaixis, and even 

 about famis and other large lawns. Its note is not so sli;n[) as IIk; 

 Phoebe's, and has a smooth, soothing sound that spealvs oi' rest and 

 contentment. The most abundant Flycatcher we have. Owing to 

 the lateness of its arrival in spring, it is not retarded by inclement 

 weather, but may be depended upon to come very close to the day 

 each year. Sometimes, however, their late coming does not avail them. 

 They are very sensitive to low temperature. The unusual cold of May 

 20, 1883, killed many of them. During cold weather they may some- 

 times be found in the thickly settled parts of our towns, probably 

 hunting protection. At such a time, May 14, 1897, I observed one 

 busily catching the insects about my strawberry blossoms, to many of 

 which they were doubtless instrumental to fertilization. 



It has never been reported from within our limits earlier than 

 April 2('). The fact that the Phcebe frequents woods to a corisideiable 

 extent upon ai'rival, leads many to thiuk that it is the Wood Pewee. 



The following early and late dates of first arrival are of interest: 

 Bicknell, April 2(i, IHW, May 1, 1894; Terre Haute, April 30, 1888, 

 May 3, 189U; lirookville, May 5, 1885, May 8, 1897. They usually 

 become common at once. Mating is observed in the latter half of 

 May and early June. I have found the bird sitting on her nest in 

 my yard July 9. They nest late, seldom before sometime in June. 

 Probably occasionally a second brood is laid. Found -young following 

 old ones September 1, 1897. The shallow nest, covered with lichens, 

 is saddled onto the horizontal lichen-covered limb of some tree; a dead 

 limb is preferred. The nest cannot be readily told from a knot or 

 a bunch of the covering material. This is its protection. The bird is 

 very watchful, and never lets any one see her on the nest. By stay- 

 ing thereon she would make it more conspicuous. It may be seen 

 sitting upright, preferably, on a dead limb, from which it utters its 

 characteristic note, and alternately therewith it flies into the air to 

 catch a passing insect. An egg is laid daily. Incubation lasts about 

 twelve days, and appears to be performed by th(; femah*; Ijoth parents, 

 liowever, care for the young. Prof. King examined 41 specimens, and 

 found 18 had eaten 66 small beetles; 14, 41 dipterous insects; 2, a 

 butterfly each; 9, 13 small dragonflies; 11, 39 hymenopterous insects; 

 1, a moth; 1, a grasshopper, and 1 a larvae of a sawfly (Geol. of Wis., 

 I., p. 562). He also adds that he saw a Wood Pewee capture and feed 

 to its young, which had recently left the nest, 41 insects in 45 minutes. 

 Some years they leave early in September; others, they remain to late 

 October. They continue to sing to some extent until their departure. 

 The following represent some of the extreme dates when the last were 

 55 — Geol. 



