The Phoebe 139 



below and the projection of two large rocks above. He writes 

 of its surroundings as follows : 



"There down smooth glistening rocks the rivulet pours, 



Till in a pool its silent waters sleep, 

 A dark browed cliff, o'ertopped with fern and flowers, 



Hangs, grimly louring, o'er the glassy deep; 

 Above through every chink the woodbine creeps, 



And smooth-barked beeches spread their arms around, 

 Whose roots cling twisted 'round the rocky steep; 



A more sequestered scene is nowhere found, 

 For contemplation deep, and silent thought profound." 



In later times the phoebe has become quite domesticated 

 and loves to build its nest about the structures which man has 

 erected. Sometimes its nest may be found under a bridge that 

 is constantly being used ; hence, its name of bridge pewee. 

 But its favorite place for a nest is about our dwellings and 

 outbuildings, and this is why it is called the house pewee. 

 The usual number of eggs is four or five. These are ovate, 

 and white, but occasionally are spotted with reddish brown. 

 Incubation lasts about twelve days, and the female performs 

 the greater part of the duty. She is a close sitter and loath to 

 leave her nest. The male remains in the vicinity of the nest 

 on watch for possible intruders, of which the cowbird is one 

 of the most harmful. The young are large enough to leave the 

 nest in about two weeks. Two broods and sometimes three 

 are reared in a season. 



A careful examination by Professor Beal of eighty phoebe 

 stomachs "showed that over ninety-three per cent, of the 

 year's food consisted of insects and spiders, while wild fruit 

 constituted the remainder." The insects were mainly injur- 

 ious kinds, including click beetles, weevils, May beetles, grass- 

 hoppers and flies. His conclusion is that "There is hardly a 

 more useful species about the farm, and it should receive 

 every encouragement and be protected from cats and other 

 marauders, for it will repay such care a hundredfold." In the 

 language of Weed and Dearbond in Birds and Their Rela- 

 tion to Man, the "Knowledge of its exceeding usefulness 

 should win it more friends, who shall encourage its increase in 

 every way possible, for surely there can be no straining of the 



