274 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
(c). The male King-bird is so well known for his pugnacity 
from the time of mating until his young are reared, that it is 
scarcely necessary for me more than to allude to this important 
trait in his character. He particularly dislikes Crows, whom 
he often pursues for at least half a mile. As he generally 
teases them by descending on their backs, he is frequently 
obliged to mount to a considerable height in the air. From his 
courage in driving away from his summer-home both hawks 
and crows, he deserves protection among the farmers, and, 
though he may occasionally feed upon bees, he destroys an 
immense number of other winged insects, upon which he chiefly 
depends for food. 
The King-birds are common summer-residents almost 
throughout New England, but they inhabit principally culti- 
vated lands and populated districts. They frequent orchards, 
gardens, and fields, rarely or never resorting to the woods. 
On the contrary, they may often be seen immediately about 
houses, especially on farms. They reach Massachusetts in the 
second week of May, and leave it in September. They are 
never, whilst here, strictly gregarious, but small parties of 
three or four may often be seen in spring. It is common to 
see two males paying attentions toa female. The victorious 
one soon after follows his mate to search for a building-site. 
I am inclined to believe that among all birds the female has 
most to do in the selection of a situation for her nest, as is 
very natural, since she is generally the chief builder and oc- 
cupant. 
The King-birds feed almost exclusively upon winged insects, 
which they seize with a click of the bill, and in the manner of 
all true flycatchers. They perch on some bough, fence, or wire, 
carefully watching for their prey, then make a sally, and snap 
up a fly or even several, often returning to their former post, 
which is usually not far from the ground, being sometimes 
merely the stalk of a weed. They also vary this mode of cap- 
ture, by darting upon some insect in the grass, or by hovering 
and skimming over the surface of the water. They usually 
fly with a rapid, nervous beat of the wing, and frequently hover, 
