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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 favorite retreat; but after Ihad 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 itsnest to rocky caves that were it called the Rock Flycatcher it would be appropriately named. Indeed I seldom have passed near such a place, particularly during the breeding season, without seeing the Pewee or hearing its notes. I recollect that while traveling 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 its existence. It was early in April; 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.
    This rule of observation I have almost always found to work, as arithmeticians 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.
    Theflight 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 inpursuit 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 happen 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, shakes 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