66 BIRD WORLD. 



unlike the female Bluebird and Oriole, looks otherwise 

 exactly like the male. See whether this was true of 

 the other fly-catchers of which you have read. 



When the Kingbird's young have left the nest, and 

 no longer need protection, the family stay in the 

 north a very short time. By September they have 

 left New England, and in the winter are in Cen- 

 tral America. Who of you know why they should 

 leave a country where there are winter frosts } Is it 

 because they themselves are afraid of cold ? 



I think you would all have liked for once to see the 

 Kingbird get the worst of a battle, which Wilson long 

 ago observed. We all like to see any one who is 

 a little inclined to bully others given a lesson. This 

 Kingbird attacked a Red-headed Woodpecker on a 

 fence rail. Every time he swept down expecting to 

 give the woodpecker a smart rap on the head, the 

 woodpecker pulled with his third toe and slipped 

 around the rail, so that the Kingbird struck only the 

 empty air. The woodpecker saved himself in this 

 way so many times that it seemed to Mr. Wilson that 

 he was enjoying the game. It would not be strange, 

 from what we know of the woodpecker, if he enjoyed 

 a joke. We hardly expect the Kingbird to do so. 

 All kinds of birds have their place, and we honor this 

 one because he is brave and useful. 



