Phoebe 195 



the eaves, for now the linnets were gone; the young had 

 left the nest in the vine and set out for themselves. It 

 took such an amount of coaxing and scolding for the 

 father phoebe to get his babies up to the roost, but the 

 three were finally cuddled together on the wire. This 

 was the father's first choice for a home, and I imagine 

 either he or some of his family will return early next 

 spring and take up a home on the bracket under the trees 

 before the linnets arrive. 



THE FLYCATCHER FAMILY 



A little observation will enable one to recognize the birds of this 

 family from their habit of perching on a fence or dead twig with wings and 

 tail moving up and down, ready for instant action; suddenly the bird 

 dashes into the air, catching an insect with a quick turn and a click of its 

 bill and returns to its perch. The birds of this family have no elaborate 

 song, only a harsh chirp or a varying twitter or whistle. The bill is 

 broad and flattened, with bristles at the base. The Kingbird or Bee- 

 martin is about eight inches long while the Wood Pewee is six and the 

 Phoebe about seven inches. 



Phcebe (Sayornis phcebe): Male and female, upper parts, olive- 

 gray, darker on head; under parts, whitish, tinged with pale yellow. 

 Lives throughout eastern North America, where it is common from 

 April to October. Nest made of mud and moss, bracketed on the side 

 of a rock or under a bridge. Eggs, from three to six, pure white, some- 

 times spotted with brown about larger ends. 



Black Phcebe (Sayornis nigricans): Male and female, entire plumage 

 black except belly, which is white. Webs of outer tail feathers, whitish. 

 Habits same as above, but resides on Pacific Coast. 



