THK FI.V-rA-lCIIKUS. 157 



all tlic insectivorous birds have deserted us. This short lapse of time, during- which they 

 have too preuuiturely abandoned our climate, is sufficient to cause us to be more incom- 

 moded with the multitude of insects than at any other season. ^\niat then must be the 

 consequence, if, from the moment of their arrival ; if, during the entire summer ; if, in 

 short, for the wlujle time of their sojourn among us, we continue to make their destruc- 

 tion u source of amusement?" 



TIIK TVllAXT FLY-CATCUEK.* 



One of the best tj-jics of the class of fly-catchers is tliat presented in the Tyrant 

 fly-catcher. This name has been employed in consequence of the peculiar tenacity the 

 male shows in his affection for his mate and brood, which makes him so jealous of the 

 least indication of intrusion, that his life is for some months a series of embroilments and 

 conflicts, in which, however, he xisually comes off' victorious. Undaunted by any foe, it 

 is sufficient for him to ascertain the proximity of an intruder, and hawks and eagles find 

 themselves ruthlessly assailed ; for, rising to a high elevation above his enemy, he darts 

 down upon him, sometimes fixing himself in an immoveable position xupon his back, from 

 which it is most difficult to dislodge him. There is, indeed, only one bird — the pvu-ple 

 martin — whose disposition is verj- similar to his own, who, having somewhat the 

 superiority of wing, can retaliate successfully. All this turbulence, however, only 

 eontimies till his j'oung are sufficiently old to provide for themselves, when he becomes 

 of as peaceable and reasonable a disposition as other birds. 



Tlie Tyrant fly-catcher, or king bird, as he is sometimes called, has a singular mode of 

 flight. The vibrations of his broad wings, as he moves slowly over the fields, resemble 

 those of a hawk when hovering and preparing to settle ; and thus he pursues insects, 

 both in the air and among the flowers below. In pasture fields, he frequently takes up 

 his position on the top of some plant near where cattle may be grazing, and there he 

 makes occasional sweeps after passing insects, and particularly after the gad-flies which 

 may bo fomid near horses and cattle, and when he perceives one to his lildng, with a 

 shrill noise he pursues and captures his prey. He hovers also over tlie surface of rivers, 

 darting after insects v.-hich frequent such places, and often showing great power of fliglit. 

 ^^'ilson takes considerable pains to award due honour to the services which tliis bird 

 confers upon the husbandman — services which have not been appreciated ; and lie 

 endeavours, both in prose and song, to shield him from the false charges which have 

 been brought against him. " "Whatever antipathy may prevail against him," he 

 remarks, " for depredations on the drones, or, if you AviU, on the bees, I can assure the 

 cultivator that this bird is greatlj^ his friend, in destroying multitudes of insects, whose 

 larva? pvey on the harvests of his fields, particularly his com, fruit trees, cucumbers, and 

 pumpluns. These noxious insects are the daily food of this bird, and he destroys, upon 

 a verj' moderate average, some hundreds of them daily. The death of every ]dng bird is 

 therefore an actual loss to the farmer, by multiplying the number of destructive insects, 

 and encouraging the depredations of crows, hawks, and eagles, who avoid, as much as 

 possible, his immediate vicinity. For myself, I must say that the king bird possesses no 

 common share of my regard. I honour this little bird for his extreme afl'ection for his 

 young ; for his contempt of danger and rmexampled intrepidity ; for his meclcness of 

 behaviour when there are no calls on liis courage — a quality which, even in the human 

 race, is justly considered so noble ; but, above all, I honour and esteem this bii'd for the 

 millions of ruinous vermin which he rids us of, whose depredations, in one season, but for 



* ]Muscicapa Tyrannus. — Biiss. 



