214 THE INVITATION. 



and life at a higher pressure. When I reached out my 

 hand and carefully closed it around the winged sieeper, 

 its sudden terror and consternation almost paralyzed it. 

 Then it struggled and cried piteously, and when re- 

 leased, hastened and hid itself in some near bushes. I 

 never expected to surprise it thus a second time. 



The fly-catchers are a larger group than the vireos, 

 with stronger-marked characteristics. They are not 

 properly songsters, but are classed by some writers 

 as screechers. Their pugnacious dispositions are well 

 known, and they not only fight among themselves but 

 are incessantly quarreling with their neighbors. The 

 king-bird, or tyrant fly-catcher, might serve as the type 

 of the order. 



The common pewee excites the most pleasant emo- 

 tions, both on account of its plaintive note, and its 

 exquisite mossy nest. 



The phoebe-bird is the pioneer of the fly-catchers, and 

 comes in April, sometimes in March. It comes famil- 

 iarly about the house and out-buildings and usually 

 builds beneath hay-sheds or under bridges. 



The fly-catchers always take their insect prey on the 

 wing, by a sudden darting or swooping movement ; 

 often a very audible snap of the beak may be heard. 



These birds are the least elegant, both in form and 

 color, of any of our feathered neighbors. They have 

 short legs, a short neck, large heads, and broad, flat 

 beaks, with bristles at the base. They often fly with a 

 peculiar quivering movement of the wings, and when 

 at rest oscillate their tails at short intervals. 



