271 

 FEATHERED TYRANTS. 



Kingbirds. 



How well the name applies to these birds ! Kings by 

 name, kings by nature and, if we may consider the concealed 

 orange patch on the top of their heads as a crown^ kings in 

 raiment. Although they are usually called tyrannical and 

 despotic in manner, it will be noticed that they very seldom 

 quarrel with birds smaller than themselves, but confine their 

 attacks chiefly to predacious birds. By driving away 

 grackles, jays and squirrels. Kingbirds perform an invalua- 

 ble service to all their orchard friends. And their attacks 

 upon hawks often relieve the farmer of any anxieties in 



Fig. 234. One of their favorite lookout perches was a dried 

 mullein stalk. 



