208 
WATER GARDENS, ETC. 
haps return in the spring, after their winter migra- 
tion, to settle down and make nests for themselves. 
Something that we have found out about the 
phoebe-birds makes us think we can do without them 
at the Six Spruces. We did not even know their 
names when they began building under the roof of 
our back veranda, until Mrs. Keith said: “Those 
miserable phoebes are here again.” Joseph and I 
would not let their nest be disturbed. Our ham- 
mock was swung near, and it was interesting to 
have the young raised where we could look at 
them each day. 
These phoebe-birds belong to a class called fly- 
catchers. Their habit is to perch themselves some- 
where, as on the top of a roof or a clothes-pole, to 
fly off suddenly after some insect passing innocently 
in the air, and to return again directly to their for- 
mer perch. This they accomplish with great quick- 
ness, and wdth an aim so sure that few insects escape 
them. It pleased us to watch them for long times 
together, and we were delighted with their quaint 
cry of phcehee! phcehee! 
One day, when the young in the nest were well 
grown and continually stretched up their brownish 
grey heads for food, I was lying in the hammock 
reading. Over the garden all was peace. Joseph 
was at Nestly Heights, playing tennis with Ben and 
Harry. 
Suddenly my hands began to smart and itch un- 
cgmfortably. When Mrs. Keith came out, she 
