PEWEE FLYCATCHER. 127 



several others in the adjoining meadows, attached to the inner part of 

 sheds erected for the protection of hay and grain. Having caught several 

 of these birds on the nest, I had the pleasure of finding that two of them 

 had the little ring on the leg. 



I was now obliged to go to France, where I remained two years. On 

 my return, which happened early in August, I had the satisfaction of 

 finding three young Pewees in the nest of the cave ; but it was not the 

 nest which I had left in it. The old one had been torn off from the 

 roof, and the one which I found there was placed above where it stood. 

 I observed at once that one of the parent birds was as shy as possible, 

 while the other allowed me to approach within a few yards. This was 

 the male bird, and I felt confident that the old female had paid the debt 

 of nature. Having inquired of the railler''s son, I found that he had 

 killed the old Pewee and four young ones, to make bait for the purpose 

 of catching fish. Then the male Pewee had brought another female 

 to the cave ! As long as the plantation of Mill Grove belonged to me, 

 there continued to be a Pewee's nest in my favourite retreat ; but after I 

 had sold it, the cave was destroyed, as were nearly all. the beautiful rocks 

 along the shores of the creek, to build a new dam across the Perkioming. 



This species is so peculiarly fond of attaching its nest to rocky caves, 

 that, were it called the Rock Flycatcher, it would be appropriately 

 named. Indeed I seldom have passed near such a. place, particularly 

 during the breeding season, without seeing the Pewee, or hearing its 

 notes. I recollect that, while travelling in Vii'ginia with a friend, he de- 

 sired that I would go somewhat out of our intended route, to visit the 

 renowned Rock Bridge of that State. My companion, who had passed 

 over this natural bridge before, proposed a wager that he could lead me 

 across it before I should be aware of its existence. It was early in 

 April ; and, from the descriptions of this place which I had read, I felt 

 confident that the Pewee Flycatcher must be about it. I accepted the 

 proposal of my friend and trotted on, intent on proving to myself that, 

 by constantly attending to one subject, a person must sooner or later be- 

 come acquainted with it. I listened to the notes of the different birds, 

 which at intervals came to my ear, and at last had the satisfaction to dis- 

 tinguish those of the Pewee. I stopped my horse, to judge of the dis- 

 tance at which the bird might be, and a moment after told my friend 

 that the bridge was short of a hundred yards from us, although it was 

 nnpossible for us to see the spot itself. The surprise of my companion 



