70 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



jealous guardian of the neighborhood and, when 

 Crow or Hawk ventures near, this vaHant little 

 warrior fearlessly plunges at the enemy, fiercely 

 striking him on the back again and again, and 

 sometimes, it seems, clinging fast with feet and 

 bill to the luckless culprit who cries with pain. 

 No amount of turning or twisting will shake 

 him off until he is ready to quit. But should 

 the Crow or Hawk light, then the situation is 

 changed at once and Mr. Kingbird keeps well 

 out of range of the stout bill. His purpose 

 accomplished, back he comes with a rattling 

 cry of victory and settles on some conspicuous 

 perch, on the lookout for passing insects. When 

 one is sighted, and his keen eyes see it far off, 

 out he swings, snaps up with a click of his bill 

 the defenceless creature, and rattles back to his 

 perch to repeat the performance over and over. 



With all his show of bravery, however, I fear 

 the Kingbird at heart is an arrant coward, for 

 he always attacks in the rear, and the moment 

 his victim, however small, turns on him, he 

 retreats precipitately. But they are lively and 

 interesting neighbors, welcome to the farmer 

 because of their valiant show against Hawks. 



The Kingbird is common about the farm and 

 orchard and in general in the open country 

 wherever there are trees. I always find them 

 nesting in elms that hang well out over the 

 stream, sometimes only a few feet above the 

 water. The circular nest is made of sticks, 

 strings, wool, grass, moss, etc., lined with 

 feathers and plant down. The four or five white 

 eggs are thickly spotted with sepia brown. 



