\'2 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 







November. This distinguished ornithologist is impressed 



with the belief that a few pass the winter theie. and that 

 others are only resident during the breeding-season ; but that 

 the greater part retire farther north for this essential business. 



In Eastern Pennsylvania, this species is among the earliest 

 of our migrants. We have known it to arrive as early as 

 the first week of March ; but, ordinarily, its arrival dates 

 from the i^th of this month, and has actually been delayed 

 as late as the beginning of April. On its first appearance, 

 it is quite a common occupant of waste fields, and often de- 

 lights in the borders of thickets, or the margins of rivulets. 

 But, later, it forsakes these haunts for* the residence of man : 

 and manifests a seeming fondness for the barnyard and the 

 presence of the cattle. In sequestered situations, it is char- 

 acterized by greater shyness than is manifested in less quiet 

 retreats. But at no time is this feeling carried to the same 

 degree as in the case of its near relative, Contopns ~cirens, 



When hungry, the Pewee perches upon a rotten branch, 

 where it remains for hours together, patiently waiting for 

 its prey. Its unerring vision, in its numerous wanderings 

 from side to side, and in up arid down directions, will not 

 permit the smallest winged creature to escape. Not only 

 for hours has the same individual watched for its prey from 

 the same commanding position, but we have also reason to 

 believe that the same twig is occupied da}' after day. during 

 the hours of feeding. While sitting, it occasionally flirts its 

 tail, and utters its simple song with a look of self-satisfac- 

 tion, particularly after having feasted upon a juicy beetle. 



The ordinary call-note of this species \* pee-wec which to 

 some ears sounds very much \fa&phcebtc, although we must 

 confess that we have never been able to perceive any resem- 

 blance to these sounds. Its well-known, monotonous, 

 though not altogether unpleasant syllables, are uttered with 

 considerable emphasis, and frequently during the early 

 spring: but with less firmness and frequency as the season 

 progresses. Besides the above call-note, from which the spe- 



