File:The birds of America - from drawings made in the United States and their territories (1840) (14562466387).jpg

Identifier: birdsofamericafr01audu (find matches)
Title: The birds of America : from drawings made in the United States and their territories
Year: 1840 (1840s)
Authors: Audubon, John James, 1785-1851 Bowen, John T., ca. 1801-1856?, lithographer
Subjects: Birds Birds
Publisher: New York : Published by J.J. Audubon Philadelphia : J.B. Chevalier
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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he water is as highas the breast, and by means of their toes, separate the root from the bulb,which on being freed from the mud rises immediately to the surface of thewater, and is thrown into the canoe. This plant is found through the wholeextent of the Columbia Valley, but does not grow farther eastward. I observed, he continues, a male of this species very active and cheer-ful, making his chief residence in a spreading oak, on the open border of apiece of forest. As usual, he took his station at the extremity of a deadbranch, from whence, at pretty quick intervals, he darted after passing in-sects. When at rest, he raised his erectile crest, and in great earnest calledout sishui, sishui, and sometimes tsishea, tsishea, in a lisping tone, ratherquickly, and sometimes in great haste, so as to run both calls together. Thisbrief, rather loud, quaint and monotonous ditty, was continued for hours to-gether, at which time, so great was our little actors abstraction; that he al- N°14 PL66
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1 . I! ■•:...,, i r ;.i-M Liili* LVmlefl &Col?by 1 I l.-nvn ijhilnrtV LEAST PEWEE FLYCATCHER. 237 lowed a near approach without any material apprehension. As I could notdiscover any nest, I have little doubt it was concealed either in some knot orlaid on some horizontal branch. I found this species both in Newfoundland and on the coast of Labrador inconsiderable numbers. In the latter country, where the bushes are low andthe fir-trees seldom attain a height of thirty feet, I observed that it preferredfor its residence the narrow and confined valleys which at that season (July)are clothed with luxuriant herbage, and abound in insects, to which this littleFlycatcher gives chase with great activity, returning, as is the well-knownhabit of all our small species, to the twig or top of the plant which it hasselected for its look-out station. Two males I observed one morning, wereconstantly engaged in pursuing each other, when at times they would mountto some height in the air, there

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