THE PEWEE FLYCATCHER. 229 



This rule of observation I have almost always found to work, as arithme- 

 ticians say, both ways. Thus the nature of the woods or place in which the 

 observer may be, whether high or low, moist or dry, sloping north or south, 

 with whatever kind of vegetation, tall trees of particular species, or low 

 shrubs, will generally disclose the nature of their inhabitants. 



The flight of the Pewee Flycatcher is performed by a fluttering light 

 motion, frequently interrupted by sailings. It is slow when the bird is pro- 

 ceeding to some distance, rather rapid when in pursuit of prey. It often 

 mounts perpendicularly from its perch after an insect, and returns to some 

 dry twig, from which it can see around to a considerable distance. It then 

 swallows the insect whole, unless it happens to be large. It will at times 

 pursue an insect to a considerable distance, and seldom without success. It 

 alights with great firmness, immediately erects itself in the manner of Hawks, 

 glances all around, shakes its wings with a tremulous motion, and vibrates its 

 tail upwards as if by a spring. Its tufty crest is generally erected, and its 

 whole appearance is neat, if not elegant. The Pewee has its particular stands, 

 from which it seldom rambles far. The top of a fence stake near the road is 

 often selected by it, from which it sweeps off in all directions, returning at 

 intervals, and thus remaining the greater part of the morning and evening. 

 The corner of the roof of the barn suits it equally well, and if the weather 

 requires it, it may be seen perched on the highest dead twig of a tall tree. 

 During the heat of the day it reposes in the shade of the woods. In the 

 autumn it will choose the stalk of the mullein for its stand, and sometimes 

 the projecting angle of a rock jutting over a stream. It now and then alights 

 on the ground for an instant, but this happens principally during winter, or 

 while engaged during spring in collecting the materials of which its nest is 

 composed, in our Southern States, where many spend their time at this 

 season. 



I have found this species abundant in the Floridas in winter, in full song, 

 and as lively as ever, also in Louisiana and the Carolinas, particularly in the 

 cotton fields. None, however, to my knowledge, breed south of Charleston 

 in South Carolina, and very few in the lower parts of that State. They leave 

 Louisiana in February, and return to it in October. Occasionally during 

 winter they feed on berries of different kinds, and are quite expert at dis- 

 covering the insects impaled on thorns by the Loggerhead Shrike, and which 

 they devour with avidity. I met with a few of these birds on the Magde- 

 leine Islands, on the coast of Labrador, and in Newfoundland. 



The nest of this species bears some resemblance to that of the Barn Swal- 

 low, the outside consisting of mud, with which are firmly impacted grasses 

 or mosses of various kinds deposited in regular strata. It is lined with deli- 

 cate fibrous roots, or shreds of vine bark, wool, horse-hair, and sometimes a 



Vol. I. 35 



