LEAST FLYCATCHER. 423 



the lining is commonly of fine root-fibres, slender tops of bent 

 grass, and at times a few hairs and feathers. Occasionally the 

 principal external material consists of strips or strings of silk- 

 weed lint and the bark of the common virgin's bower. The 

 nest is extremely neat and uniform, resembling a complete 

 hemisphere. As nests may be found late in July, it is 

 probable they have a second brood in the course of the 

 season. They are extremely attached to their offspring, and 

 keep up an incessant, almost choking tsheah tsheah when 

 any person approaches the tree where they have their 

 brood. The young and old now move about in company, 

 and at this time feed on various kinds of berries, partic- 

 ularly those of the cornel and whortleberry. At length the 

 young are seen to select each other's society, and rove about 

 without any fixed resort, previous to their gradual departure. 

 A pair, probably of the same brood, still lingered here in Sep- 

 tember, and like the little Parrots called Inseparable, appeared 

 fondly to cherish each other's company. It was toward even- 

 ing when I saw them, and at first they appeared inclined to 

 roost in the shady willow-tree in which they had alighted. They 

 nestled close to each other with looks and notes of tenderness 

 and affection ; wherever one went, the other instantly followed, 

 and the same branch contained the same contented pair. 



Nuttall followed Wilson in the mistake of supposing this species 

 and acadicus to be identical, and in his account has mingled the 

 biographies of the two. The latter is more southern in its distri- 

 bution, the center of its breeding area being in the Middle States. 

 " Chebec " is a common summer resident from Pennsylvania to the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence, and westward to the prairies. It winters 

 south to Panama. 



