100 



ever and anon their plaintive "pee-ah-wee" rings out, often 

 with clock-like regularity. 



It is, however, with Wood Pewee homes that we are at 

 present concerned. These are, as I have said, moss-covered, 

 but they are very inferior in construction to those either of 

 the Hummingbird or Gnatcatcher. The bulk of the nest 

 is made out of coarse plant fibres, not so perfectly quilted 

 togetlier and very shallow as compared to the nests of the 

 other birds mentioned. The outside has less moss attached 

 and it is not done in as firm a manner. 



Still these nests, saddling quite large limbs as they do, 

 are very difficult to see. If one has patience they are, how- 

 ever, very easy to find, especiallj^ if the nest happens to 

 contain a full set of the creamy white eggs with their sharp, 

 brown specks. You have but to watch either of the owners. 

 Should you chance to be observing the female, she will prob- 

 ablj' go to the nest within a few minutes ; should it be the 

 male bird that you are watching, he will probably quite 

 quickly betray the hiding place of the nest, for he is very 

 attentive to his mate and often carries food to her as she 

 sits on the eggs. 



All flycatchers have a metallic little trill that they utter, 

 usually when they are very happ_y and sometimes under 

 stress of excitement; the female pewee gives it as she settles 

 on her nest and the male usually does as he goes to feed 

 her. I have found tlie greater number of their nests built 

 on horizontal limbs of oak trees, but I have sometimes, too, 

 found them in chestnuts, in maples along roadsides and in 

 apple trees. The majority have been located from twenty 

 to fifty feet above ground, but I have found one as low as 

 eight feet, this one beinar in an orchard. 



