322 LAND BIRDS 



downward. Nearly always the nestling is out after it 

 and back with it in his beak before you can realize how 

 it is done. Many times have we watched them, and the 

 lesson is always given in this way, and always repeated 

 until there can be no fear of missing. Then the young 

 are taken to the meadow and taught to dart down after 

 butterflies or grasshoppers. In some way they learn that 

 the worker bees have stings and must not be caught, but 

 that the drones are delicious morsels. So even at the 

 bee-hive they are a benefit to the farmer, while among 

 the fruit trees and meadows their value can scarcely be 

 overestimated ; and the stigma of " Bee-bird," so long 

 unjustly borne by them, is fast becoming a word of praise 

 among intelligent people. 



448. CASSIN KINGBIRD. — Tyrannus vociferans. 

 Family : The Flycatchers. 



Length: 8.00-9.00. 



Adults : Crown with concealed red patch ; upper parts and breast dark 



gray; belly lemon-color: chin white; tail black, tipped with 



grayish. 

 Young : Duller ; wing-coverts margined with bufFy, and no crown patch. 

 Geographical Distribution : From eastern slope of Rocky Mountains to 



Southern Wyoming, Western Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona ; from 



Oregon to Lower California. 

 California Breeding Range : Chiefly in upper and lower Sonoran zones 



throughout the State ; south into Lower California. 

 Breeding Season : May 27 to July 30. , 



Nest : Similar to that of the Arkansas kingbird. 

 Eggs: 2 to .5 ; similar in color and markings to the Arkansas kingbird's. 



Size 0.99 X 0.76. 



Unlike tlie Arkansas kingbird, the Cassin loves the 

 mountains and the coast. His nest has been taken at 



