116 THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 



Phoebe Bird or Petvee. — Length, seven inches; ex- 

 tent, eleven inches. The -upper parts are of a grayish 

 brown, considerably darker on the crown; wings and tail, 

 dark brown; the outer vane of the outer tail feather, yellow- 

 ish white, except at the tip; the under parts are dull white, 

 with a yellowish tinge and a brownish gray patch on each 

 side of the breast, almost forming a band ; the bill is black 

 and two-fifths of an inch in length; feet, black; feathers 

 of the head, slightly crested. 



The nest is built of moss, mud and grasses, and is al- 

 most invariably found on a beam or rafter of a bridge or 

 piazza, or any convenient place near human habitation, 

 though occasionally on rocky cliffs or an upturned stump. 

 The eggs are from four to five in number, white, occasion- 

 ally with brown spots, and three-fourths by three-fifths 

 of an inch in size. There are two broods a year. 



The birds spread themselves over the eastern part of the 

 United States from the south, arriving in New Jersey in 

 the latter part of March and returning towards the end 

 of October; one or two are occasionally found in winter. 



Their cry is a plaintive pewit -phoehe. 



Their food consists of insects of all kinds, principally 

 weevils. 



Pewee, Wood, or Wood Pewee Pit/catcher. — 



Length, six inches; extent, ten inches; bill, two-fifths of 

 an inch; plumage practically identical with the preced- 

 ing, from which it differs mainly in size. The lower 

 mandible, however, is yellow and the outer tail feather 

 lacks the white on its outer web. 



The nest is flat and built on the upper branch of a 

 tree; it is made of fine grasses and small roots, covered 

 with lichens. The eggs are either three or four in num- 

 ber, white, with a wreath of brown or lilac near the larger 

 end, and seven-tenths by one-half inch in size. 



The birds come from the south to the eastern United 



