BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 295 



The Wood Pewee, Muscicapa virens, is a very common 

 summer bird, and may be regarded as very useful, since, 

 though solitaiy in its tastes and habits, and preferring the shel- 

 ter of the woods, it is very often found in orchards and fields. 

 It resorts to the most shaded parts, not from any fear or dis- 

 trust of man, but because, having the power of seeing in the 

 obscure twilight, it does not love the glare of day. It arrives 

 in Massachusetts in the middle of May, and may then be seen 

 perched on low stakes or branches, occasionally darting after 

 insects, which it secures with a snap of the bill. Its song, 

 heard in the dusk of evening, is pleasant, and harmonizes with 

 the calmness of the hour. 



The nest of the wood pewee is generally built on a horizon- 

 tal branch, somewhat after the manner of the humming bird's, 

 and coated over with moss, so as hardly to be distinguishable 

 from the bark. The eggs are three or four, of a yellowish 

 white, spotted with lilac and brown. In autumn, when the 

 young are full grown, the parents bring them into our villages, 

 and even our cities, and teach them to procure their food. 

 They sweep so near the surface of ponds, as to snatch the in- 

 sects floating on the water ; sometimes they chase them from 

 the top of the highest tree. Before the leaves are fallen, they 

 are gone to their winter home. 



The Small Pewee, Muscicapa Acadica, is a very common 

 summer bird, which comes to us from the far south, toward 

 the close of April, and returns in September. Like the former 

 species, it prefers retired and shaded places, where it sits qui- 

 etly on a low branch, waiting for insects to come near. When 

 they appear, it takes a sweep and secures them, and then re- 

 turns to its station. Its note is sharp and not pleasant ; but 

 the bird is fearless and familiar, not removing from one who 

 passes by, till he comes almost within reach. Like all the rest 

 of this tribe, it is eminently useful in destroying flies, moths, 

 and various other insects which are troublesome to man and 

 beast ; on this account, they all should be treated with encour- 

 agement and regard. 



