528 ORNITHOLOGY. 



FAiMiLY TYRANNID^ — Tyrant Flycatchers. 

 Tyrannus verticalis. 



Western Kiii;;bird; "Arkansas Flycatcher." 



Tyrannus verticalis, Say, Long's Exped., II, 1823, 60. — Baird, Birds N. Am., 

 ]85S, 173; Cat. N. Am. Birds, 1859, No. 126.— COOPER, Orn. Cal., I, 1870, 

 312.— CouES, Key, 1872, 170, figs. 110a, 112; Ciieck List, 1873, No. 244; 

 Birds N.W., 1874, 236.— B. B. & R., Hist. N. Am. Birds, II, 1S74, 324, pi. 

 XLiii, fig. 2.^Henshaw, 1875, 342. 



Generally distributed throiig'hout all fertile districts of the west, thia 

 species was extremely abundant in favorable localities, this being especially 

 the case at Sacramento, where perhaps no other species equaled it in num- 

 bers. In its Jiabits, this Kingbird is remarkably similar to the eastern 

 species, T. carolinensis, and their nest and eggs cannot be distinguished; but 

 it is of an even more xavacious and quarrelsome disposition, continually 

 indulging in aerial combats, sometimes to such an extent that half a dozen 

 or more may be seen pitching into each other promiscuously, but apparently 

 more from playful than pugnacious motives. They are also of a very sym- 

 pathetic disposition, for when a nest is disturbed, the owners soon bring 

 around them, by their cries, all the others in the neighborhood; but no 

 sooner do they assemble than they begin their playful contests, and fill the 

 air with their twitterings. Their notes are all weaker and less rattling than 

 those of the eastern species, partaking more of the character of a tremu- 

 lous, though rather shrill, twitter. 



We know of no other bird so easily tamed, or which so thoroughly 

 enjoys the society and protection of human beings, when once domesticated, 

 as this species, as the following account of three individuals possessed by 

 us in the field, at various times, may show: — 



The first of these pets, familiarly known to the party as "Chippy," 

 was obtained about the middle of July from the Indians, who had just 

 taken him, along with three others, all fully fledged, from the nest. He 

 was carried to camp, and fed with grasshoppers and flies until able to catch 

 them for himself, which he learned to do in about a week after he acquired 

 the power of flight. The little fellow had a most voracious appetite, and 

 during the day continually followed us about, teasing for grasshoppers, 

 imtil he had eaten enough, after which he quieted down for five minutes or 



