184 SOME COMMON LAND-BIEDS. 



color or mark is visible. They are fond of particular places, 

 usually a dry twig, which gives a clear view and a small perch 

 for their tiny feet. Day after day they return to the same 

 twig and keep up a patient watch for flies. The wood pewee, 

 which has this habit in the most marked degree, in the South is 

 called the " dead-limb bird." Often, when he is not at home, one 

 can pick out his favorite perch by the signs of long occupation. 



For all that the flycatchers sit so still, they are nervous 

 birds. The snapping of their bills, the quick twitching of 

 their tails, and their short, abrupt motions are a strong 

 contrast to the composed industry of the vireos and warblers. 

 As they sit on their perches, /the flycatchers are big-headed, 

 square-shouldered, erect little birds, and their tails hang straight 

 down over the limb. Close at hand one notices the large, round, 

 buff-ringed eyes,, full of intelligence and decision, and the 

 breadth of bill, which gives them a wide-mouthed look. In 

 color,, all the small flycatchers except a bright scarlet one 

 that lives in Mexico and along the southwestern boundary 

 are much alike, a dull brownish olive, with lighter, sometimes 

 quite yellowish, underparts and with two light wing-bands. 

 The shade varies, especially with the season, but the pattern 

 of coloration never does. 



The flycatching habit from which they get their name 

 is not peculiar to this family. Some woodpeckers are ex- 

 pert flycatchers; a number of the warblers find much of 

 their food in this way ; I have seen chipping sparrows 

 catching insects at odd intervals and other birds, the king- 

 fisher for example, will do it now and then; but the 

 manner of sitting still and erect, the habit of twitching the tail, 

 and the tuneless voice, are characteristic of the flycatchers. 

 From three to five of these little birds are found in most 

 localities, the species varying with the place. 



