country where ice and snow lie thick upon the 
ground. So for several months he had most 
surely been away down South where the flowers 
were blooming and the mockingbirds were sing- 
ing. But wherever he had been he was now 
back in the land where many kingbirds love to 
pass the summer, and he was looking for a good 
place to make his home. 
Almost at once he decided that this was the 
spot for him. It suited his taste much better 
than any of the fine lawns he had seen. By way 
of a little celebration he jumped off the twig and 
flew around the lot twittering as loud as he 
could. This is a kingbird’s way of saying: “I 
have taken possession of this place. Let every- 
body understand this and take warning.” 
Searcely had he settled on his perch again 
when over the trees of the big place near by a 
large gray and white bird appeared, flying along 
slowly as if very tired. A high wind had been 
blowing that morning and a number of gulls 
seemed to have been blown inland. 
A kingbird is about eight and a half inches 
long and weighs less than two ounces. On the 
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