LEAST FLYCATCHER. 125 
fall; but the Phabe is an exception to this rule. Not 
only does he winter north of the frost line, but he comes 
to us as early as March 20 and remains until October. 
The Phaebe owes his name to his song of pewit-phabe, 
pewit-phabe, » humble lay uttered between vigorous 
wags of the tail. This tail-wagging is a characteristic 
motion, and also accompanies the Pheebe’s call-note, 
pee, pee, which it utters at intervals. 
The Least Flycatcher shares the Phabe’s preference 
for the vicinity of houses and is most often found nesting 
in our shade or fruit trees. The nest, 
ltt Pyeather, unlike the Phabe’s, is composed of 
plant-down, fibers, and rootlets, and is 
placed in the crotch of a tree. The eggs resemble the 
Pheebe’s in being white. 
It is difficult to describe our smaller Flycatchers so 
that even when in the hand they may be satisfactorily 
identified, and it is quite impossible to describe them so 
that from color alone they may be recognized in the field. 
Fortunately, the calls of our commoner species are so 
unlike that, when learned, there will be no difficulty in 
naming their authors. 
To say that the Least Flycatcher is five and a half 
inches long, olive-green above and grayish white below, 
does not aid one in distinguishing it from several of its 
cousins; but when I add that its call is a snappy chedde, 
chebée, the bird will be known the first time it is heard. 
It is this call which has given the bird its common 
name. 
The Chebec comes to us in the spring, about April 25, 
and remains until September. 
You will rarely find two members of the same family 
with more different dispositions than those of the King- 
bird and Wood Pewee. Their natures might symbolize 
war and peace, so combative is the Kingbird, so gentle the 
