THE WOOD PEWEE. 233 



The nest of the Wood Pewee is as delicate in its form and structure, as 

 the bird is in the choice of the materials which it uses in its construction. 

 In almost every case, I have found it well fastened to the upper part of a 

 horizontal branch, without any apparent preference being given to particular 

 trees. Were it not that the bird generally discloses its situation, it would 

 be difficult to discover it, for it is shallow, well saddled to the branch, and 

 connected with it by an extension of the lichens forming its outer coat, in 

 such a manner as to induce a person seeing it to suppose it merely a swelling 

 of the branch. These lichens are glued together apparently by the saliva of 

 the bird, and are neatly lined with very fine grasses, the bark of vines, and 

 now and then a few horse-hairs. The eggs are four or five, of a light yel- 

 lowish hue, dotted and blotched with reddish at the larger end. It raises 

 two broods in a season in Virginia and Pennsylvania, but rarely more than 

 one in the Northern States. By the middle of August the young are abroad; 

 and it is then that the birds seem more inclined to remove from the interior 

 of the forest. 



Although less pugnacious than the larger Flycatchers, it is yet very apt 

 » to take offence when any other bird approaches its stand, or appears near its 

 nest. 



In its ordinary flight the Wood Pewee passes through the gloom of the 

 forest, at a small elevation, in a horizontal direction, moving the wings rapid- 

 ly, and sweeping suddenly to the right or left, or darting upwards, after its 

 prey, with the most perfect ease. During the love season, it often flies, with 

 a vibratory motion of the wings, so very slowly that one might suppose it 

 about to poise itself in the air. On such occasions its notes are guttural, and 

 are continued for several seconds as a low twitter. 



Although the Wood Pewee is found in Labrador and Newfoundland, as 

 well as on the Rocky Mountains and along the Columbia River, it does not 

 appear to have been seen in the Fur Countries. I have met with it abun- 

 dantly in the Texas, where it breeds, as it does in all suitable localities in 

 the United States. 



The egg measures five-eighths of an inch in length, and nine-sixteenths in 

 breadth. The vividness of the red markings varies considerably. 



Wood Pewee, Muscicapa rapax, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. ii. p. 81. 



Wood Pewee, Muscicapa virens, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 285. 



Muscicapa virens, Bonap. Syn., p. 68. 



Wood Pewee, Muscicapa virens, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 93; vol. v. p. 425. 



Slightly crested; second quill longest, first shorter than third and longer 

 than sixth; tail deeply emarginate; upper parts dusky olive, upper part of 



