346 NORTH AMERICAN HIRD'S. 



rock, only a few feet from the ground. It measured four and a half inches 

 in diiumrter and tln'cc in hei-ht. The cavity was nearly three inches wide 

 and one and a half deep. Its base was constructed of layers of fine leaves, 

 strips of bark, roots of plants, and otlier miscellaneous materials. Tlie 

 great mass of the nest itself was made up of tine mosses closely interwoven, 

 and strengthened by an intermixture of firmer plant fibres. The whole was 

 carefully and softly lined with strips of the inner bark of various deciduous 

 shrid)s, fine roots, and finer grasses. The semicircular nests are usually 

 placed out of reach of thu weather under some projecting shelter. 



Wilson states that they often nest in eaves, and occasionally in an open 

 well, five or six feet down, among the interstices of the side-walls. Niittall 

 has known them to nest in an empty kitchen. 



Their attachment to a locality, when once chosen, is remarkable, and is 

 often persevered in under the most discouraging circumstances. In one in- 

 stance, Nuttall states that a nest was built in the boathouse at Fresh Pond, 

 Candiridge, — a place so common as to be almost a thoroughfare. Although 

 with its young brood this nest Avas torn down by ruffian hands, the female 

 immediately built a new one in the same spot, and laid five additional eggs. 

 This was lined witli the silvery shreds of a manilla rope, taken from the 

 loft over the boathouse. 



Besides the common call-note, from which these birds deri\-e their name, 

 they have, during the love-season, a low twittering song with which they 

 entertain their mates, but which is heard only when the birds are in com- 

 pany, and for a brief season. 



The flight of the Pewee is an alternation of soaring and a succession of 

 light fluttering motions, more rapid wlien pursuing its prey than in its 

 orilinary movements. Its crest is usuatly erected when it is in motion, or on 

 tlie lookout for in.sects. 



Mr. Audubon found these birds in full song in Florida during the winter, 

 and as lively as in spring, but met with none breeding south of Charleston. 

 Tlioy leave Louisiana in February, and return to it in October. They feed 

 largely on berries, es])ecially during the winter, and Mr. IMaynard found 

 s(uiie in the spring of 18G8 with hawthorn berries in their stomachs. 



Tlie eggs of tlie Pewee measure .80 of an inch in length and .60 in breadtli. 

 Tliey are of a rounded oval shai)e, pointed at one end and much lai'ger at the 

 other. Their ground-color is a pure bright white, and generally unsiiotted ; 

 but a certain proportion, one set in every five or six, is distinctly marked 

 with reddish-brown dots at the larger end. 



