PEWIT FLYCATCHER. 
231 
pleasing, not for any melody they contain, but from the ideas 
of spring and returning verdure, with all the sweets of this 
lovely season, which are associated with his simple but lively 
ditty. Towards the middle of June, he becomes nearly 
silent; and late in the fall gives us a few farewell and 
melancholy repetitions, that recall past imagery, and make the 
decayed and withered face of nature appear still more melan- 
choly. 
The Pewit is six inches and a half in length, and nine and 
a half broad ; the upper parts are of a dark dusky olive ; the 
plumage of the head, like that of the two preceding, is loose, 
subcrested, and of a deep brownish black; wings and tail, 
deep dusky; the former edged, on every feather, with 
yellowish white, the latter forked, and widening remarkably 
towards the end ; bill, formed exactly like that of the King 
Bird; whole lower parts, a pale delicate yellow; legs and 
bill, wholly black ; iris, hazel. The female is almost exactly 
like the male, except in having the crest somewhat more 
brown. This species inhabits from Canada to Florida ; great 
numbers of them usually wintering in the two Carolinas and 
Georgia. In New York, they are called the Phoeby Bird, 
and are accused of destroying bees. With many people in 
the country, the arrival of the Pewee serves as a sort of 
almanack, reminding them that now it is time such and such 
work should be done. ££ Whenever the Pewit appears,” says 
Mr Bartram, ££ we may plant peas and beans in the open 
grounds, French beans, sow radishes, onions, and almost 
every kind of esculent garden seeds, without fear or danger 
from frosts ; for, although we have sometimes frosts after their 
first appearance for a night or two, yet not so severe as to 
injure the young plants.”* 
* Travels , p. 288. 
