CHAPTER VIII 



FLYCATCHER FAMILY, PRAIRIE HORNED LARK, 

 SCARLET TAN ACER 



AS early as the middle of March we hear 

 the familiar "Phoebe, phoebe," shrill, 

 loud and persistent, and we know that 

 the first member of the Flycatcher family has 

 arrived. The others follow in due course. 

 The Wood Peewee, daintier and smaller than 

 Phoebe, never fails to appear. Occasionally 

 Least's Flycatcher, still smaller, consents to 

 come. Usually we have the Crested Fly- 

 catcher at various places on the farm, but as 

 they nest in hollow trees they were mentioned 

 in the chapter on birds that nest in that way. 

 There are always numerous pairs of King- 

 birds. 



Phoebe, however, is an old standby, and the 

 only one of the family that comes to our build- 

 ings to nest. For many years one pair have 

 lived just over the front door, building their 

 nest in a notch of one of the stones in the wall 

 under the verandah roof. Once in three or four 

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