40 BULLETIN 17 9, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



motive, but rather to punitive measures taken by a bird whose 

 territory was invaded by another of the same species. 



Wetmore (1916) sums up the food habits as far as Puerto Rico 

 is concerned thus : "Detailed study of the food of the gray kingbird 

 shows it to be beneficial almost without exception. A few honeybees 

 are eaten, but they are more than made up for by the large bulk of 

 injurious weevils, mole crickets, and Hemiptera destroyed. Though 

 not so great an enemy of the changa {Scapteriscus didactylus) as has 

 been commonly believed, it accomplishes practically as much good 

 in consuming cane root- and stalk-boring weevils and coffee leaf- 

 weevils." 



Though it is unfortunate that more is not known about the diet 

 of this species in its United States range, there is no reason to believe 

 that its beneficial tendencies in the Tropics do not extend to Florida 

 and elsewhere in this country. It is often common about citrus 

 groves and must perform distinct service in reducing the insect 

 pests in such places, as well as about cultivated fields of vegetables. 

 The swarming insect life of Florida must offer unlimited food in such 

 line, and anyone who has had to work afield in many parts of the 

 gray kingbird's range in that State will have wished for more 

 reducing agencies to curb the incredible abundance of these creatures. 

 The species should be encouraged in every possible way. 



Behavior. — There is nothing really outstanding in the behavior of 

 the gray kingbird differing from that of the other Tyrannidae; it 

 is very characteristically a kingbird ! It is fond of an exposed perch 

 in order that detection and pursuit of insect prey can be accom- 

 plished with despatch. Any sort of perch may be utilized, but 

 wherever telephone wires are available these are preferred to anything 

 else. 



One of the best localities for observation in the whole of the bird's 

 range is the Florida Keys — certainly a very appropriate place, for 

 here it was made known to science by Audubon. Coming in by 

 Indian Key, he probably saw his first ones on the Matecumbes, or 

 perhaps Lignum-vitae Key. Today the visitor there can see them 

 as easily as he did, and under similar conditions, for the species is 

 very abundant there, perhaps more so than any part of the State. 

 Driving along the Overseas Highway (Florida 4:-A), one encounters 

 long stretches where the wires are close to the road, and at times 

 gray kingbirds seem to be everywhere. Of course, numbers vary, 

 and on some days fewer are seen than on others. I have made 16 trips 

 over this highway, from the mainland to Key West, and in some 

 parts of it have counted as many as five individuals in 10 miles, 

 or one every 2 miles. They may be even commoner that this, or 

 much scarcer. The characteristic contour of the bird can be recog- 



