WOOD PEWEE. 355 



chanting ditty, sweet, but monotonous, like pS-ay pay-wee, p6-ay pay-wee, then in a 

 little higher and less sing-song tone, his usual and more serious pee-a-wee. On dark 

 and daipp mornings, this curious warble is sometimes continued nearly to eight o'clock; 

 and the effect of this tender, lulling lay, in the gray dawn, before the awakening of other 

 birds, {ind their mingling chorus, is singular, and peculiarly pleasing. It is a gratulatory 

 feeling of unmixed and placid delight, concomitant with the mild reviving light of the 

 opening day, and the perfect joy of the mated male, satisfied in every reasonable desire; 

 in short, a hymn of praise to the benevolent Author and Supporter of existence!" 



"This species," says Dr. T. M. Brewer, "like all its family, is a very expert catcher 

 of insects, even the most minute, and has a wonderfully quick perception of their near 

 presence, even when the light of day has nearly gone and in the deep gloom of thick 

 woods. It takes its station on the end of a low dead limb, from which it darts out in 

 quest of insects, sometimes for a single individual, which it seizes with a peculiar snap 

 of its bill; and, frequently meeting insect after insect, it keeps up a constant snapping 

 sound as it passes on, and finally returns to its post to resume its w^atch. During this 

 w^atch it occasionally is heard to utter a low twitter, vsrith a quivering movement of 

 the wings and tail, and more rarely to enunciate a louder but still feeble call-note, 

 sounding like pee-e. These notes are continued until dark, and are also uttered throughout 

 the season." 



In Wisconsin and Illinois as well as in Missouri and Texas I have found the 

 Wood Pewee a very numerous bird. It may be found at present in any open woods 

 or large orchard of old spreading apple trees, often very near a dwelling. The peculiar 

 notes are heard from mom till night, but being not an ostetisible bird, it is much oftener 

 heard than seen ; and yet it is not diflicult to observe, as it remains almost for hours 

 at the same spot, repeating at intervals its sigh. When approached it does not take 

 wing at once, like many other birds, when their foe is near. 



"There is a delicious sadness in these notes of the Pewee," says Mr. H. E. Park- 

 hurst, "like a minor chord interposed in the predominating jubilant major strains of 

 the forest choir. It voices the spirit of silent and gloomy woods. A plaintive effect is 

 very rare among the songbirds, which are so generally keyed to merriment. The Gold- 

 finch has an evident touch of it, recurring now and then in a song that is otherwise 

 joyous and like a rippling laughter. One of the charms of the Fox Sparrow, too, is a 

 subtle quality of mournfulness tingeing a melody that is cheerful, if not joyous. But 

 the Pewee's note is like a faint, despairing cry, not so desperate as to agonize the 

 listener, and yet appealing strongly to his sympathies. It appears to be the most dis- 

 consolate of all the family, the victim of chronic melancholia. What a contrast to the 

 hilarious disposition of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet," and the House Wren, that bubbles 

 over with songful laughter. 



The nest of the Wood Pewee is a model of bird-architecture. It is always built 

 or rather "saddled" on a stout lichen-covered, dry limb, and resembles a mossy pro- 

 tuberance or knot. If not actually betrayed by the birds themselves, it is rarely dis- 

 covered, and, indeed, with the exception of the ornithologist, few are acquainted with 

 it. It is an elegant structure, rather flat and saucer-shaped, with thick walls, made 

 of bark-strips and grasses and lined with the same material. The exterior is a beau- 



