BiKDS OF Indiana. 861 



September 1, 1897. In spring, they return closely after the Kingbird. 

 The first spring record for the State is from BrookTille, where it was 

 observed April 18, in 1888, and 1896. It was not seen there until 

 May 11, 1894. The following records give date of earliest and latest 

 first axrival at places noted: Bicknell, April 19, 1896, April 34, 1895; 

 Sedan, April 21, 1896, May 10, 1891; Laporte, April 27, 1893, May 2, 

 1894, and 1896; Petersburg, Mich., April 27, 1888, May 5, 1897. 

 Its food is largely insects, with which its woodland home abounds, 

 though, after the wild fruits begin to ripen, it eats some of them. 



104. Gknus SAYORNIS BoNAPiRTK. 



*174. (456). Sayomis phcebe (Lath.). 



Phoebe. 

 Synonym, Pewee, Bridge Pbweb. 



Adult. — Above, olive-gray, top of head, dark olive-brown; wings 

 and tail, dusky, the outer tail feathers, inner secondaries, and some- 

 times wing coverts, edged with whitish; below, whitish, rather soiled 

 on throat; sides of breast, olive-gray; posterior parts, tinged with yel- 

 lowish; bill, black. Immature.— More olive above, more yellow below. 



Length, 6.25-7.00; wing, 3.25-3.55; taU, 3.00-3.40. 



Eange. — Eastern North America, from Mexico and Cuba north to 

 Xew Brunswick and Mackenzie Eiver (Ft. Simpson); west to Great 

 Plains. Breeds from South Carolina, Louisiana and western Texas, 

 north. Winters from southern Texas, Tennessee and North Carolina, 

 southward. 



Nest, of mud, moss, gi-ass, and feathers, under cliff, bridge, culvert 

 or shed.. Eggs, 3-8; white, rarely spotted with reddish-brown; .75 

 by .57. 



One of the earliest of the summer residents to arrive is the Phoebe. 

 Sometimes it is at Brookville by March 1, and arrives farther south 

 late in February. It is rarely common before mid- April. The earliest 

 arrivals seek the banks of rivers, creeks and the hillsides even in the 

 woods. Cold days they seek the eastern exposures, where the winds 

 do not blow and where the first rays of the sun may be felt. They 

 are known as "Pewee," or "Bridge Bird," because of their note, which 

 is variously given as Feebe, Peebec, or Pewee, and the place of nesting, 

 which is often under a bridge or culvert, and also in bams, sheds, old 

 buildings, sometimes on the post of a porch, or in the eaves of an 

 occupied dwelling. 



