THE PEWEE FLYCATCHER. 
229 
This rule of observation I have almost always found to work, as arith- 
meticians say, both ways. Thus the nature of the woods or place in which 
the observer may be, whether high or low, moist or dry, sloping north or 
south, with whatever kind of vegetation, tall trees of particular species, or 
low shrubs, will generally disclose the nature of their inhabitants. 
The flight of the Pewee Flycatcher is performed by a fluttering light 
motion, frequently interrupted by sailings. It is slow when the bird is 
proceeding to some distance, rather rapid when in pursuit of prey. It often 
mounts perpendicularly from its perch after an insect, and returns to some 
dry twig, from which it can see around to a considerable distance. It then 
swallows the insect whole, unless it happens to be large. It will at times 
pursue an insect to a considerable distance, and seldom without success. 
It alights with great firmness, immediately erects itself in the manner of 
Hawks, glances all around, sha'kes its wings with a tremulous motion, and 
vibrates its tail upwards as if by a spring. Its tufty crest is generally 
erected, and its whole appearance is neat, if not elegant. The Pewee has 
its particular stands, from which it seldom rambles far. The top of a 
fence stake near the road is often selected by it, from which it sweeps off 
in all directions, returning at intervals, and thus remaining the greater part 
of the morning and evening. The corner of the roof of the barn suits it 
equally well, and if the weather requires it, it may be seen perched on the 
highest dead twig of a tall tree. During the heat of the day it reposes in 
the shade of the woods. In the autumn it will choose a stalk of the mullein 
for its stand, and sometimes the projecting angle of a rock jutting over a 
stream. It now and then alights on the ground for an instant, but this 
happens principally during winter, or while engaged during spring in 
collecting the materials of which its nest is composed, in our Southern 
States, where many spend their time at this season. 
I have found this species abundant in the Floridas in winter, in full song, 
and as lively as ever, also in Louisiana and the Carolinas, particularly in the 
cotton fields. None, however, to my knowledge, breed south of Charleston 
in South Carolina, and very few in the lower parts of that State. They leave 
Louisiana in February, and return to it in October. Occasionally during 
winter they feed on berries of different kinds, and are quite expert at 
discovering the insects impaled on thorns by the Loggerhead Shrike, and 
which they devour with avidity. I met with a few of these birds on the 
Magdeleine Islands, on the coast of Labrador, and in Newfoundland. 
The nest of this species bears some resemblance to that of the Barn Swal- 
low, the outside consisting of mud, with which are firmly impacted grasses 
or mosses of various kinds deposited in regular strata. It is lined with deli- 
cate fibrous roots, or shreds of vine bark, wool, horse-hair, and sometimes a 
Yol. I. 35 
