2 
NATURE STUDY. 
roughs to a Phoebe nest of six stories built under his porch. 
As there was but one shelf, the bird had built a nest above the 
old structure each year, making this remarkable pile. Most 
frequently, however, this bird nests beneath bridges, fastening 
its home to the rafters, where, sad to relate, its offspring some¬ 
times die from attacks of too numerous insects. 
The Chickadee has a Phoebe note ; of quite different pitch 
and cadence, however, from 
the true Phoebe note. It is 
as though high E were taken 
for pitch note, and aslur made 
oD sharp for lower note. One 
may hear this in midwinter, for 
the Chickadee, a seed eater, 
remains with us, while Phoe¬ 
be, the insect eater, migrates. 
Make a drop from high E to 
C natural and this gives the 
relative difference between 
the two songs ; when once de¬ 
tected they cannot be mistak¬ 
en. The Phoebe too has a 
soft preface note which is not 
noticabie unless the listener 
be near the bird. 
I first made the acquaint¬ 
ance of the Wood Pewee, a little woodland cousin of the 
Phoebe, in a thick maple grove. It was midsummer, with 
the hot July sun pouring into the depths of the shady soli¬ 
tude. The Pewee sat unconcernedly upon a maple twig, 
pouring out his sweet pe-a-wee, (with drawl upon first and 
last, syllable) when without the least warning he darted off 
in the midst of that drawl, caught an insect while on the 
wing, returned to his bough, and having swallowed his morsel 
all in one instant, he finished his drawl. His song, sung in his 
favorite high trees in dark woods, is moderate, gentle, and pen- 
