FLYCATCHERS 71 



They are rather soHtary in their habits at all 

 seasons of the year. With all his belligerent 

 nature toward other birds he is a model husband, 

 for he treats his mate with great tenderness and 

 affection. He relieves her at intervals during 

 the period of incubation, and assists her in the 

 care of the fledglings. Perhaps it is because of 

 his great love for his family that he guards them 

 so jealously. 



The Kingbird is the best dressed of the Fly- 

 catchers, a family wearing only plain colors. 

 The upper parts are ashy-gray with the head 

 black. The under parts are white, grayish on 

 the breast, and the tail feathers are tipped with 

 white. The male has an orange patch on the 

 crown that is seen only when the crest is raised. 

 The notes of the Kingbird are harsh and un- 

 musical. Their strident rattles are heard at all 

 hours of the day during their residence. They 

 arrive in late April or early May, summer 

 throughout the Eastern States and New Bruns- 

 wick, and winter in Central and South America. 

 They are nearly nine inches in length. 



Chebec. The smallest of the Flycatchers as 

 well as the most numerous, is the Chebec, or 

 Least Flycatcher, as he is sometimes called. 

 His shrill metallic cry, '^chebec, chebec,'^^ is rather 

 disagreeable, and when heard constantly becomes 

 the most wearisome cry of the summer so- 

 journers. They live in alder bushes along the 

 bank of the river, in the orchard and in the 

 edge of second-growth lots that border pastures. 

 Perched on some good lookout, this little fellow, 

 with jerk of head and tail, repeats his shrill cry, 



