230 THE PEWEE FLYCATCHER. 



few feathers. The greatest diameter across the open mouth is from five to 

 six inches, and the depth from four to five. Both birds work alternately, 

 bringing pellets of mud or damp earth, mixed with moss, the latter of which 

 is mostly disposed on the outer partsj and in some instances the whole exte- 

 rior looks as if entirely formed of it. The fabric is firmly attached to a rock, 

 or a wall, the rafter of a house, &c. In the barrens of Kentucky I have 

 found the nests fixed to the side of those curious places called sink-holes, 

 and as much as twenty feet below the surface of the ground. I have observed 

 that when the Pewees return in spring, they strengthen their tenement by 

 adding to the external parts attached to the rock, as if to prevent it from 

 falling, which after all it sometimes does when several years old. Instances 

 of their taking possession of the nest of the Republican Swallow (Hirundo 

 falva) have been observed in the State of Maine. The eggs are from four 

 to six, rather elongated, pure white, generally with a few reddish spots near 

 the larger end. 



In Virginia, and probably as far as New York, they not unfrequently raise 

 two broods, sometimes three, in a season. 



This species ejects the hard particles of the wings, legs, abdomen, and 

 other parts of insects, in small pellets, in the manner of owls, goatsuckers 

 and swallows. 



The following characters presented by the digestive organs and trachea, 

 are common to all the North American small Flycatchers, varying only in 

 their relative dimensions. The roof of the mouth is fiat and somewhat 

 diaphanous; its anterior part with three prominent lines, the palate with 

 longitudinal ridges; the posterior aperture of the nares linear-oblong, mar- 

 gined with papillae. The tongue is 4^ twelfths long, rather broad, very thin, 

 emarginate and papillate at the base, the tip slit. The mouth is rather wide, 

 measuring 4f twelfths across. There is a very narrow oblong salivary gland 

 in the usual place, and opening by three ducts. The oesophagus is 2 inches 

 1 twelfth long, 2^ twelfths wide, without dilatation. The stomach is rather 

 small, 6 twelfths long, 5 twelfths broad, considerably compressed, the lateral 

 muscles distinct and of moderate size, the lower very thin; the epithelium 

 thin, tough, longitudinally rugous, brownish-red. The stomach filled with 

 insects. The intestine is 6h inches long, from If twelfths to 1 twelfth in 

 width; the coeca 1^ twelfths long, ^ twelfth broad, 1 inch distant from the 

 extremity; the rectum gradually dilates into an ovate cloaca. 



The trachea is 1 inch 7 twelfths long, from 1 twelfth to f twelfth in breadth, 

 considerably flattened; the rings 7S, with two additional dimidiate rings. 

 The bronchi are of moderate length, with 12 half rings. The lateral muscles 

 are very slender, as are the sterno-tracheales; the inferior laryngeal are very 

 small, and seem to form only a single pair. 



