AVES—FLYCATCHER. 509 
turmed, are somewhat scantier. It is formed of a little loose hay, featners 
of the Guinea fowls, hogs’ bristles, pieces of cast snake skins, and dogs’ hair 
Whether he surrounds his nest with the snake skin by way of terrorem, to 
prevent other birds or animals from entering, or whether it be that he finds 
its silky softness suitable for his young, is uncertain; the fact, however, is 
notorious. It feeds on whortleberries, while they last. 
It is eight inches and a half long; the upper parts are dull greenish olive, 
the feathers on the head are pointed, and form a sort of crest; the throat 
and breast ash color; the rest of the lower parts a sulphur yellow. 
THE PHEWIiT FLYCATCHER! 
[s one of our earliest spring visitants. Its notes, like those of the blue- 
bird, are pleasing, not for any melody they contain, but for the ideas of spring 
and returning verdure, with all the sweets of this lovely season, which are 
associated with his simple but lively ditty, which is nothing but pewée, 
pewittitee, pewée, for a whole morning. It begins to build in March, on some 
projecting part under a bridge, in a cave, in a well, often under a shed 
in the low eaves of a cottage, and in such places. The nest is composed 
of mud mixed with moss, lined with flax and horse-hair, and is generally 
large and solid. This bird is six inches anda half in length; the upper 
parts are dusky olive; whole lower parts a pale delicate yellow; the plu- 
mage of the head is loose and crested. 
THE SMALL BLUE-GRAY FLYCATCHER, 
ir it were not for the length of the tail, would rank next to the humming- 
bird in magnitude. It is four inches anda half long; the plumage above 
is of a light bluish gray; below, bluish white; the wings brownish black. 
Its motions are quick ; he seems always on the look-out for insects; darts 
about from one part of the tree to another with hanging wings, and erected 
tail, making a feeble chirping ¢see, tsee, no louder than a mouse. Though 
so small, it is ambitious of hunting on the highest branches, and is seldom 
seen among the humbler thickets. It fixes its nest among the twigs on the 
top of a high tree; this is formed of the stems of old leaves, the husks of 
buds, the withered blossoms of weeds, coated with dry lichen, and lined with 
horse-hair. Yet in this frail receptacle does the female cow-bird venture to 
deposit her ege; and to the management of these pigmy nurses, leaves 
the fate of her helpless young. 
_— — 
1 Muscicapa phebe, Latu. 2 Muscicapa caerulea, WiLson 
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