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PEWEE FLY-CATCHER. 



{Sayornis Nigricans ) 

 Our spring is eariy greeted by this plain, unpretend- 

 ing little bird. It is one of the smaller birds of the 

 family, being about as large as the common sparrow, 

 except that the tail is longer and the head is crested. 

 Its plumage is very dark or nearly black above, and 

 slaty white below, bill and feet black. It is a very 

 pleasing and amusing sight to see this bird sitting on 

 the fence or a tree by the hour and flying every few 

 minutes at an insect which it generally secures and 

 returns to its post by a circular flight. When taking 

 an insect a sharp snapping of the bill is heard. Its 

 song is very simple but pleasing. It builds its nest 

 under old bridges, unoccupied buildings or about the 

 barn: it is composed of mud, feathers and some other 

 soft materials. The eggs are small, somewhat pointed 

 and pure white: there are from four to five. 



WOOD PEWEE. 



{Contopits Virens.) 

 This species of pewee is not so often seen as the for- 

 mer. Its home is in or around the woods; sometimes 

 in an orchard. The general color of this bird is dark 

 brown or greenish above, and a yellowish white be- 

 neath. It is generally to be found as early as the Fifth 

 month in our latitude, and proceeds north as far as New 

 England, being found in the eastern United States. 

 There is a western species also. Our bird delights in 

 the deep, thick forest. The nest is small and made of 

 soft materials, and is saddled to some horizontal limb 

 so as to appear as part of it. Eggs rich cream color, 

 spotted with bright brown, four in number. 



