484 



KING-BIRD 



sitting mate and the precious contents of his nest. These sallies are 

 almost invai'iably successful, and. Wilson writes that " Hawks and 

 crows, the Bald Eagle, and the great Black Eagle, all equally dread 

 a rencontre with this dauntless little champion, who, as soon as he 

 perceives one of these last approaching, launches into the air to meet 

 him, mounts to a considerable height above him, and darts down on 

 his back, sometimes fixing there to the great annoyance of his 

 sovereign, who, if no convenient retreat or resting place be near, 



King-bird. 



endeavours by various evolutions to rid himself of his merciless 

 adversary. But the King-bird is not so easily dismounted. He 

 teases the Eagle incessantly, sweeps upon him from right to left, 

 remounts, that he may descend on his back with the greater 

 violence ; all the while keeping up a shrill and rapid twittering ; 

 and continuing the attack sometimes for more than a mile, till he 

 is relieved by some other of his tribe equally eager for the contest." 

 Other birds meet with a similar fate, but the Purple Martin 

 iProgne) and the Red -headed Woodpecker are exceptions, the 

 former escaping by superior flight, the latter by being able to 

 dodge the little tyrant around the perch where he has taken 

 refuge. During other times of the year the King-bird entirely 



