AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 183 



nest of the phoebe, pewit or pewee, all of which names are applied to 

 the same bird. Early in May I started out with my trusty friend, the 

 camera, in order to photograph a Phoebe's nest. I had in mind one of 

 the most beautiful and picturesque spots in the country. A brook, one 

 that has long been the Mecca of many local anglers, winds its circuitous 

 way across fields, through woods, under roadways, until just before it 

 empties into the lake it passes through a ravine and under several 

 rustic bridges. This is one of the richest localities for bird products 

 in this vicinity and within sight of its banks may be found breeding 

 nearly all the perching birds known to inhabit here. 



Phoebe did not disappoint me and some time before I came in sight 

 of the old bridge I heard amid the babble of the early arrivals, his 

 familiar call. I found that the birds had already completed a new 

 rustic moss covered nest, fastened securely to the third cross log under 

 the bridge. These birds or others have had nests under this bridge 

 for years. They vary its location from year to year and the old one 

 nearly all falls down during the winter. What strange situations 

 birds will choose in which to rear their families. Numbers of teams 

 pass over the bridge daily and one would not think that a bird would 

 enjoy having a horse's hoof pounding the boards not more than an 

 inch above its head, especially as the bridge is old and somewhat shaky. 

 The accompanying photo of the Phoebe's nest was taken with the 

 tripod standing in the middle of the brook, (the operator incidently 

 having an insecure, single-footed position on the sharp edge of a pro- 

 jecting rock). The detail in the picture was obtained in the darkness 

 under the bridge by a small stop and a minute's exposure. 



That those who are from any cause unable to take outings, might 

 see one of Nature's beauty spots, I decided to photograph the bridge, 

 as this is a typical spot for a Phoebe's home. One of the birds was in 

 sight all the time, busily engaged in the dexterous pastime of captur- 

 ing all insects that flew by. He was continually changing his position 

 and when I was prepared to take my picture, he was occupying a look- 

 out that was within range of the lens, and can be seen in the illustra- 

 tion, just above the roadway and about half an inch from the left of the 

 picture. I should like but have never had the opportunity to witness 

 the young phoebes first flight. Unless they are more dexterous than 

 the young of most birds on the maiden attempt, they must be very wet 

 and bedraggled looking specimens when they reach the shore. 



