i66 Bird -Lore 



As I approached a likely clump, I was greeted by their harsh, high-pitched 

 ree-zeet', a-ree-zeeV, ree-zeet, uttered quickly with a sharp accent on the last 

 syllable. The note has a feeling of alarm and excitement, but the birds seemed 

 absolutely composed as they voiced it, perching on twigs of nearby dead 

 trees, their wings slightly elevated evidently for ventilation, as it was very 

 warm. 



It is peculiar that, instead of keeping still or moving to a distant point 

 when one is approaching the nest, the Gray Kingbird — at least as far as my 

 experience goes — perches himself within a few feet of it and calls at the top 



of his voice, giving the approxi- 

 mate location. I peered among 

 the branches, and it was not 

 long before I had discovered 

 their treasure. The nest was at 

 the usual height of four feet 

 and just overhanging the water. 

 A very flimsy structure it seemed 

 at first glance, though, when 

 examined, a very compact one. 

 The outer walls were of partly 

 decayed and dried rootlets of 

 various sizes closely woven. 

 The lining consisted of finer 

 rootlets, a few horse hairs, and 

 fine sedge-like stems. The whole 

 was weakly fastened to the 

 limb. 



Realizing now that the nest 

 had been found, they prepared 

 for a fray. The ree-zeet note was 

 foremost, but accompanied by a harsh though semi-musical twittering simi- 

 lar to that uttered on the wing by the common Kingbird and likewise rendered 

 as they hovered overhead. The female was the braver of the two, and as I 

 was arranging the camera, made several dives at it, only to veer sharply when 

 within a few feet of the apparatus. This nest contained four beautiful eggs of 

 a creamy pink in ground color delightfull}/ spotted and blotched with lilac 

 and warm shades of sienna. 



In quick succession, several other nests were found, a few of which con- 

 tained young. In one the young were just a day old; curious little fellows, 

 for the most part naked, sparingly tufted with brownish white down. In 

 another the nestlings were older, and most of the down, though a goodly portion 

 was retained on the head and lower back, was replaced by the bluish feather 

 sheaths. These birdlings were livelier than the preceding, and eagerly stretched 



GRAY KINGBIRD 



