156 LEAST FLYCATCHER. 



fall ; but the Phoebe is an exception to this rule. Not 

 only does he winter north of the frost line, but he comes 

 to us as early as March 20 and remains until October. 



The Phoebe owes his name to his song of pewit-phoebe, 

 pewit-phcebe, a humble lay uttered between vigorous 

 wags of the tail. This tail-wagging is a characteristic 

 motion, and also accompanies the Phoebe's call-note, 

 pee, pee, which it utters at intervals. 



The Least Flycatcher shares the Phoebe's preference 

 for the vicinity of houses and is most often found nesting 



in our shade or fruit trees. The nest, 



Least Flycatcher, -,., ., -r, , . , f 



Empidonax minimus. UIlllke tlie Phoebe's, IS Composed of 



plant-down, fibers, and rootlets, and is 

 placed in the crotch of a tree. The eggs resemble the 

 Phoebe's in being white. 



It is difficult to describe our smaller Flycatchers so 

 that even when in the hand they ma r y be satisfactorily 

 identified, and it is quite impossible to describe them so 

 that from color alone they may be recognized in the field. 

 Fortunately, the calls of our commoner species are so 

 unlike that, when learned, there will be no difficulty in 

 naming their authors. 



To say that the Least Flycatcher is five and a half 

 inches long, olive-green above and grayish white below, 

 does not aid one in distinguishing it from several of its 

 cousins ; but when I add that its call is a snappy chebec, 

 chebec, the bird will be known the first time it is heard. 

 It is this call which has given the bird its common 

 name. 



The Chebec comes to us in the spring, about April 25, 

 and remains until September. 



You will rarely find two members of the same family 

 with more different dispositions than those of the King- 

 bird and Wood Pewee. Their natures might symbolize 

 war and peace, so combative is the Kingbird, so gentle the 



