94 WOOD PEWEE.
are heard mingling with its own plaintive notes. In all these places, it
exhibits the simplicity and freedom of its natural habits, dashing after the
insects on which it principally feeds, with a remarkable degree of inattention
to surrounding objects. Its sallies have also the appearance of being
careless, although at times protracted, when it seems to seize several
insects in succession, the more so perhaps that it has no rival to contend
with in such situations. Sometimes towards autumn, it sweeps so closely
over the pools that it is enabled to seize the insects as they float on the
water ; while, at other times, and as if in surprise, it rises to the tops of
the forest trees, and snaps the insect which is just launching forth on some
extensive journey," with all the freedom of flight that the bird itself possesses.
The weary traveller, who at this season wanders from his path in
search of water to quench his thirst, or to repose for a while in the shade,
is sure to be saluted with the melancholy song of this little creature,
which, perched erect on a withered twig, its wings quivering as if it had
been seized with a momentary chill, pours forth its rather low, mellow
notes with such sweetness as is sure to engage the attention. Few other
birds are near; and, should the more musical song of a Wood-thrush come
on his ear, he may conceive himself in a retreat where no danger is likely
to assail him during his repose.
This species, which is considerably more abundant than the M.fusca,
is rather late in entering the Middle States, seldom reaching Pennsylvania
until the 10th of May; yet it pushes its migrations quite beyond the
limits of the United States. On the one hand, many of them spend the
winter months in the most Southern States, such as Louisiana and the
pine barrens of Florida, feeding on different berries, as well as insects;
while, on the other, I have met with them in September, in the British
province of New Brunswick, and observed their retrograde movements
through Maine and Massachusetts. I have also seen some near Halifax,
but neither in Labrador nor Newfoundland did I find an individual.
In autumn, when its notes are almost the only ones heard, it may often
be seen approaching the roads and pathways, or even flitting among the
tall and beautiful elms in the vicinity, or in the midst of our eastern cities.
There you may observe the old birds teaching the young how to procure
their food. The various groups, imperceptibly as it were, and in the
most peaceable manner, now remove southward by day ; and, at this season,
their notes are heard at a very late hour, as in early spring. They
WOOD PEWEE. 95
may be expressed by the syllables pe-wee, pettozvee, pe-wee, prolonged
like the last sighs of a despondent lover, or rather like what you might
imagine such sighs to be, it being, I believe, rare actually to hear them.
This species, in common with the Great Crested Flycatcher, and the
Least Wood Pewee, is possessed of a peculiarity of vision, which enables
it to see and pursue its prey with certainty, when it is so dark that you
cannot perceive the bird, and are rendered aware of its occupation only
by means of the clicking of its bill.
The nest of the Wood Pewee is as delicate in its form and structure,
as the bird is in the choice of the materials which it uses in its construction.
In almost every case, I have found it well fastened to the upper
part of a horizontal branch, without any apparent preference being given
to particular trees. Were it not that the bird generally discloses its situation,
it would be difficult to discover it, for it is shallow, well saddled to
the branch, and connected with it by an extension of the lichens forming
its outer coat, in such a manner as to induce a person seeing it to suppose
it merely a swelling of the branch. These lichens are glued together apparently
by the saliva of the bird, and are neatly lined with very fine grasses,
the bark of vines, and now and then a few horse-hairs. The eggs are four
or five, of a light yellowish hue, dotted and blotched with reddish at the
larger end. It raises two broods in a season in Virginia and Pennsylvania,
but rarely more than one in the Northern States. By the middle of August
the young are abroad; and it is then that the birds seem more inclined
to remove from the interior of the forest.
Although less pugnacious than the larger Flycatchers, it is yet very
apt to take offence when any other bird approaches its stand, or appears
near its nest.
In its ordinary flight the Wood Pewee passes through the gloom of
the forest, at a small elevation, in a horizontal direction, moving the wings
rapidly, and sweeping suddenly to the right or left, or darting upwards,
after its prey, with the most perfect ease. During the love season, it often
flies, with a vibratory motion of the wings, so very slowly that one
might suppose it about to poise itself in the air. On such occasions its
notes are guttural, and are continued for several seconds as a low twitter.