3-11 DIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



fulvouB. the ri>miKi-s wllli cliill wIiIIInIi: upiht tiill-covorU bordered with pnjo ruBly; tiill 

 llppi'd with pull* fiilviniH. or hrnwnlsli wlilt<>. Bemmth an In the adult, but juKulum 

 tliilC'l witli pale fiilvmiH. No colurod piitcli ou vertex. 



Wlni{.4.4i-4.7.'.: tiill,:t.40-a75; bill, from nostril. .SO-. 57. depth at buse, .24-. J?; width, .37- 

 .4"; tiirsiix, .;i>-.78: niUblle toe, .tA-.m. 



The Bee Bird or Bee Martin is a very common bird tlu-oughout 

 the State, and its general hal)its are well known. It is a summer resi- 

 dent, ai'riving in April and (liparting early in September. 



"No one of our coiumuii birds," says Dr. Brewer, "possesses 

 more strongly marked characteristics of manners and habits than 

 this species. Its pufrnaeious disposition during the breeding-season, 

 the autlacious boldness with which it will attack any bird larger 

 than itself, the persistent tenacity with which it will continue these 

 attacks, and the reckless courage with which it will maintain its 

 unequal warfare, are well-known peculiarities of this interesting and 

 peculiar species. Its name, Iviugbird, is given it on the supposition 

 that it is superior to all other birds in these contests. My own 

 obsen'ations lead me to the conclusion that writers have somewhat 

 exaggerated the quarrelsome di.sposition of this bird. I have never, 

 or very rarely, known it to molest or attack any other birds than 

 those which its o\vn instinct prompts it to drive away in self-defense, 

 such as Hawks, Owls, Eagles, Crows, Jays, Cuckoos and Grakles. 

 These it will always attack and cb-ive ofiF to quite a distance from 

 their nests. Nothing can be more striking than the intrepidity with 

 which one of these birds will pounce upon and harass birds vastly 

 larger and more powerful than itself. The Kingbird is always prompt 

 to perceive the approach of one of these enemies, and always rushes 

 out to meet it. Mounting in the air high above, it pounces down 

 upon its back, upon which it will even rest, furiously pecking at the 

 exposed flanks of its victim, and only leaving it to descend again and 

 again with the same unrelenting animosity. In these encounters it 

 always comes off conqueror." 



Genus IffYIARCHUS Cadanis. 



ityiarrliKS Cabanis, Fauna rnruana. 1!<4M(>. 152. Mnscicapa/ifox Gmel. 



"Gen. Chak. Tarsus equal to or longer than the middle toe. which Is decidedly longer 

 than the hind one. Bill wider at base than half the culmen. Tail broad, long, even, or 

 slightly rounded, about euunl to the wings, whieh sciu-cely renehto the middle of the tail; 



