362 HISTORY OF THE 



Iris brown; bill, legs, feet and claws black. 



These familiar birds are among the first arrivals to assure us 

 of the return of spring. Their inoffensive, cheerful habits in- 

 sure them a hearty welcome. Their attachment to a selected 

 locality is very strong, and, when not greatly disturbed, nest for 

 years in the same place. I have occasionally found them nest- 

 ing under porches, sheds, etc., on high prairie lands, but as a 

 rule they prefer to make their home near the water's edge, be- 

 side a bridge or steep, rocky cliff, as these afford natural nesting 

 places and a greater abundance of insect life, of which their 

 food almost wholly consists, and where, at all hours of the day, 

 they will be found perched upon a limb or stub, darting here 

 and there to capture with a click of their bills the insects of 

 their choice; and when at rest often utter, with a raised crest 

 and a jerk of the tail, their plaintive call note, "Phoebe," or at 

 times "Pe-weet." They also have, during the mating season, 

 a low, twittering song. Their flights are a succession of light 

 fluttering motions and frequent sailings. 



Their nests are placed under bridges, overhanging rocks, 

 roots, and suitable places in dwellings and outhouses. They 

 are composed of layers of mud, moss, grasses or other miscel- 

 laneous material at hand, and warmly lined with fine grasses, 

 rootlets or hairs. Eggs four to six, .75x.56; pure white; oc- 

 casionally sets will be found with dots of reddish brown around 

 the larger end; in form, oval to ovate. 



Sayornis saya (BONAP.). 



SAY'S PHCEBE. 

 PLATE XXIII. 



Summer resident in the western portion of the State; common; 

 occasionally east to the middle. Arrive the middle of March 

 to first of April; begin laying the middle to last of April; return 

 in October. 



B. 136. R. 316. C. 377. G. 154, 173. U. 457. 



HABITAT. Western United States; north to the Saskatchewan; 

 east to Dakota (straggling occasionally eastward); south through 

 middle Kansas into Mexico to Jalapa. 



