THE PEWEE FLY CATCHER. 
225 
by their well-known note, and I saw them darting about through the air, 
giving chase to some insects close over the water. They were full of gaiety, 
frequently flew into and out of the cave, and while alighted on a favourite 
tree near it, seemed engaged in the most interesting converse. The light 
fluttering or tremulous motions of their wings, the jetting, of their tail, the 
erection of their crest, and the neatness of their attitudes, all indicated that 
they were no longer fatigued, but on the contrary refreshed and happy. On 
my going into the cave, the male flew violently towards the entrance, snapped 
his bill sharply and repeatedly, accompanying this action with a tremulous 
rolling note, the import of which I soon guessed. Presently he flew into 
the cave and out of it again, with a swiftness scarcely credible : it was like 
the passing of a shadow. 
Several days in succession I went to the spot, and saw with pleasure that 
as my visits increased in frequency, the birds became more familiarized to 
me, and, before a week had elapsed, the Pewees and myself were quite on 
terms of intimacy. It was now the 10th of April ; the spring was forward 
that season, no more snow was to be seen, Redwings and Grakles were to be 
found here and there. The Pewees, I observed, began working at their old 
nest. Desirous of judging for myself, and anxious to enjoy the company of 
this friendly pair, I determined to spend the greater part of each day in the 
cave. My presence no longer alarmed either of them. They brought a few 
fresh materials, lined the nest anew, and rendered it warm by adding a few 
large soft feathers of the common goose, which they found strewn along the 
edge of the water in the creek. There was a remarkable and curious twit- 
tering in their note while both sat on the edge of the nest at those meetings, 
and which is never heard on any other occasion. It was the soft, tender 
expression, I thought, of the pleasure they both appeared to anticipate of the 
future. Their mutual caresses, simple as they might have seemed to another, 
and the delicate manner used by the male to please his mate, rivetted my 
eyes on these birds, and excited sensations which I can never forget. 
The female one day spent the greater part of the time in her nest ; she 
frequently changed her position ; her mate exhibited much uneasiness, he 
would alight by her sometimes, sit by her side for a moment, and suddenly 
flying out, would return with an insect, which she took from his bill with 
apparent gratification. About three o’clock in the afternoon, I saw the 
uneasiness of the female increase ; the male showed an unusual appearance of 
despondence, when, of a sudden, the female rose on her feet, looked sidewise 
under her, and flying out, followed by her attentive consort, left the cave, 
rose high in the air, performing evolutions more curious to me than any I 
had seen before. They flew about over the water, the female leading her 
mate, as it were, through her own meanderings. Leaving the Pewees to 
