228 
THE PEWEE FLYCATCHER. 
protection of hay and grain. Having caught several of these birds on the 
nest, I had the pleasure of finding that two of them had the little ring on 
the leg. 
I was now obliged to go to France, where I remained two years. On my 
return, which happened early in August, I had the satisfaction of finding 
three young Pewees in the nest of the cave ; but it was not the nest which I 
had left in it. The old one had- been torn off from the roof, and the one 
which I found there was placed above where it stood. I observed at once 
that one of the parent birds was as shy as possible, while the other allowed 
me to approach within a few yards. This was the male bird, and I felt 
confident that the old female had paid the debt of nature. Having inquired 
of the miller’s son, I found that he had killed the old Pewee and four young 
ones, to make bait for the purpose of catching fish. Then the male Pewee 
had brought another female to the cave! As long as the plantation of Mill 
Grove belonged to me, there continued to be a Pewee’s nest in my favourite 
retreat ; but after I had sold it, the cave was destroyed, as were nearly all 
the beautiful rocks along the shores of the creek, to build a new dam across 
the Perkiomen. 
This species is so peculiarly fond of attaching its nest to rocky caves, 
that, were it called the Rock Flycatcher, it would be appropriately named. 
Indeed I have seldom passed near such a place, particularly during the 
breeding season, without seeing the Pewee, or hearing its notes. I recollect 
that, while travelling in Virginia with a friend, he desired that I would go 
somewhat out of our intended route, to visit the renowned Rock Bridge of 
that State. My companion, who had passed over this natural bridge before, 
proposed a wager that he could lead me across it before I should be aware of 
is existence. It was early in Api'il ; and, from the descriptions of this place 
which I had read, I felt confident that the Pewee Flycatcher must be about 
it. I accepted the proposal of my friend and trotted on, intent on proving 
to myself that, by constantly attending to one subject, a person must sooner 
or later become acquainted with it. I listened to the notes of the different 
birds, which at intervals came to my ear, and at last had the satisfaction to 
distinguish those of the Pewee. I stopped my horse, to judge of the distance 
at which the bird might be, and a moment after told my friend that the 
bridge was short of a hundred yards from us, although it was impossible for 
us to see the spot itself. The surprise of my companion was great. “How 
do you know this ?” he asked ; “ for,” continued he, “ you are correct.” — 
‘‘ Simply,” answered I, “ because I hear the notes of the Pewee, and know that 
a cave, or a deep rocky creek, is at hand.” We moved on ; the Pewees 
rose from under the bridge in numbers ; I pointed to the spot and won the 
wager. 
