PEWEE, a common name given to several species of American insectivorous birds, of the sub-order elammatores, family tyrannida, and related, of course, to the common , barn-yard fowl, but more nearly to the king-bird and other fly-eatehers. The common , pewee or phoebe bird (sagornis fusems, Baird) measures about 8 in across the extended wings. It is a beautiful brown on the back, darker on the head. with a yellowish-white breast. and belly; quills brown, slightly edged with a lighter color, a sort of dull white. Its principal habitat is the middle and Atlantic states, from northern Maine to Florida, living in northern portions during summer and migrating to the south in the autumn. It comes north in April, and usually hatches a brood by the middle of May and another by the first of August. In October it returns to the south, migrating at night. It makes a nest like a barn swallow, attached to a wall or rafter, of mml, grass, mosses, etc., lining it with down and other soft materials. and the same bird may use the nest more than one season. It lays from four to six eggs, white, with a few reddish spots at the larger end. The hatching takes about 13 days; and in 3 or 4 days more the young birds leave the nest. This bird has been seen by prof. Aughey in eastern NebrasRa along the Mis souri river, who found in its stomach numerous locusts and other insects; in one instance 43 locusts. Its note of pee-wee, or plice-be, is well known. Time WOOD PEWEE (cantopus vixens. Cab.) measures from 10 to 11 in across the outspread wings, with the color of the back much like that of the phmbe bird, hut tt has two pale grayish bands across the wings, a narrow whitish circlet. around the eyes. and has a greenish-yellow belly and grayish throat and breast. Its flight is rapid, with sudden sweeps when darting after its r Insect prey, which it pursues in the night. It also eats berries. Its note somewhat resembles that of the phoebe bird, but is more frequently single syllabled than with that Bird. It Conies north two or three weeks later than the phoebe bird, some of them going as tar north as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. They return as far south in the win. ter us New Grenada. They also penetrate the west as far us the high central plains. One dissected by prof. Aughey in 1869 was found to be a destroyer of locusts. Its nest is attached to the branch of It tree, the eggs four or five, light yellowish, w ith reddish spots at the larger end. It is very courageous, defending its nest against all intruders. Two broods are raised at the north where the season is long enough. Prof. Aughey also Aces the western Nvood pewee (cantopus Richordsoni, Baird) which resembles the "wood pewee." except having shorter legs. He saw none as far e. as Missouri. They were observed along timbered streams in western Nebraska, but of course they extend n. and s., and reach to the Pacific. Their stomachs contained many locusts.
PEWS (anciently puts; Old Fr. pugs; Dutch, pages,- Lat. podium, " nnythilw on which to lean ;" .s'appuyer), inclosed seats in churches. Church-seats were in use in Eng
land some tine baffle the reformation, as is proved by numerous examples still extant, the carving on sonic of which is as early as the decorated period, i.e., before 1400 A.D. ; and records as old as 1450, speak of such seats by the name of Rues. They were origi Dolly plain fixed benches. all facing east, with partitions of wainscoting about 8 ft. high, and sides of the width of the seat, paneled or carved; the sides sometimes rising above the wainscoting, and ending in finials or poppies, or else ranging with it and finished with a molding. After the reformation, probably under the influence of the Puritans, who, objecting to some parts of the service which they were compelled to attend, sought means to conceal their nonconformity, pews grew into large and inclosures, containing two or four seats, lined with baize, and fitted with doors, desks, and cushions. Pews were early assigned to particular owners, but at first only to the patrons of churches. A canon made at Exeter, in 1287, rebukes quarreling for a scat in church, and decrees that none shall claim a seat as his own except noblemen and the patrons. Gradually, however, the system of appropriation was extended to other inhabit ants of the parish, to the injury of the poor, and the multiplication of disputes.
The law of pews in England is briefly this: All church-scats are :it the disposal of the bishop, and may be assigned by him, either (1) directly by faculty to the holders of any property in the parish; or (2) through the churchwardens, whose duty it is as officers under the bishop, to "seat the parishioners according to their degree." In the former case, the right descends with the property, if the faculty can be shown, or immemorial occupation proved. In the latter, the right can at any time be recalled, and lapses on the party ceasing to be a regular occupant of the scat. It appeals that by common law every parishioner has a right to a seat in the church, and the churchwardens are bound to place each one as best they can. The practice of letting pews, except under the acts, or special local acts of parliament, and, much more, of selling them, has been declared illegal.
In Scotland, pews in the parish churches are assigned by the heritors (q.v.) to the parishioners, who have accordingly the preferable claim on them; in towns the practice •ls to let them annually. As is well known, pews in dissenting churches are rented as a means of revenue to sustain general charges. In some parts of the United States, pews in churches are a matter of annual competition, and bring large sums. Latterly, in England. there has been some discussion as to the 'injuriously exclusive character of the " pew system." and a disposition has been manifested to abolish pews altogether, and substitute movable seats available by all indiscriminately. Several pamphlets have appeared on the subject. ' In the Roman Catholic churches on the continent pews are seldom to be seen.