BIRDS OF THE MIDDLE STATES. 
5 
Plate II. 
CONTOPUS VIKEXS, Cabanis. 
Wood Pewee. 
The Wood Pewee, like most of its congeners, is a very early comer. 
It visits the Middle States about the 15th of April, and from this time 
until its departure in September, it is j)rincipally an occupant of high- 
timbered woods with a scanty growth of underbrush. 
But as the season advances, and the amatory feelings become awak- 
ened, these shady retreats are deserted by a few individuals of more 
venturesome disposition, and a temiaorary ahiding- 2 :)lace is sought for amid 
the stirring scenes of active farm-life. This generally occurs during the 
last of May or the beginning of June, and is the prelude to the more 
important act of mating, which follows. 
The assumj)tion of matrimonial relations, however, is not a matter 
that is entered into without more or less consideration. Occasionally, 
much time is sjDent in its ^^I'epai’ation. This is iiresumahly the case when 
a young female is courted by some venerable male. But when an ajipa- 
rently experienced individual is the object of his devotion, the state of things 
is different. His advances are then either encouraged and reci|n-ocated, or 
they are declined, and the disapjjointed suitor comj^elled to seek a jiartner 
elsewhere. It is j^robahle, moreover, that the same birds jjair together on 
each return of the breeding-season, unless j^revented by death, or some 
other of the numerous vicissitudes of life. 
The ceremony of mating being over — which business is ordinarily of 
short continuance, seldom lasting for a greater j^eriod than two days — 
the newly-wedded pair now set out to discover a suitable jdace for the 
building of a home. This is a matter of considerable moment, often 
