a 
Birds of Massachusetts. 115 
The Pewir Fuycatcuer, Muscicapa atra. com- 
monly known by the name of phebe, is a familiar 
and welcome bird; not valued for its beauty or its 
song, in both which respects it is deficient, but held 
in general esteem, because it reposes confidence in 
man. [ts favorite resorts are bridges and barns, and 
similar frequented places. It prefers the vicinity of 
water, but this is not indispensable ; it cares rather 
for a good hunting ground for insects, and as these 
are most abundant in the places just mentioned, the 
phoebe generally selects them. There it sits on some 
roof or post, singing its song, such as it is, occasion- 
ally suspending it to dart after a passing fly. As 
these birds are active and successful in this pursuit, 
the domestic cattle are not a little benefited by their 
labors. 
The phebe returns from its winter quarters in 
the beginning of April At first it resorts to the 
woods, but soon comes into the village to select a 
place for its nest. 1t is remarkable for its local at- 
tachment, and will return to the same place, year 
after year, even when it has been disturbed repeat- 
edly in its possession. It builds under bridges, in 
caves, or the sides of wells, under the eaves of 
buildings, or in barns, making the nest sometimes 
on the top of a beam and sometimes attaching it to 
the side. The eggs are about five, of a pure white. 
As the nest and the young are so little concealed 
from. observation, they are often destroyed by boys, 
taking early lessons in inhumanity, and their parents 
little suspect how much such practices can do to 
brutalize the character and moral feeling. Audubon 
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