236 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Of the type specimens, No. 25574 (PI. 1, Fig. 12), from a set of six e<i'gs, 

 Ralpli collection, was taken near Brownsville, Texas, on April 20, 18'J2, and 

 measures a trifle above the average size, while No. 2G2!)2 (PI. 1, Fig. 13), from 

 a set of four eggs, taken June 5, 1893, near Rockport, Aransas County, Texas, 

 by Ml-. H. P. Attwater, represents one of the least marked and smallest speci- 

 mens in the series. 



87. Tyrannus tyrannus (Linn^us). 



KINGBIRD. 



Laniua ii/rannm Linn.kus, Systema Natiu're, ed. 10, I, 1738, 94. 

 Tyrannus tyrannus Jordan, Manual of Vertebrates, ed. I, 1881, 96. 



(B 124, C 242, R 304, 308, U 444.) 



CrEOGUArnioAL RANfiE: Temperate North America, cliit^fly east of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains; rarer and more locally distiibuted westward, in portions of Utah, Idaho, Nevada, 

 eastern California, Oregon, Washington, and southern British Columbia; north in the 

 eastern British Provinces to about latitude 50'=, and from Manitoba westward to about 

 latitude .jT"^ north; south in winter through central and western South America to Bolivia, 

 the Island of Cuba, and the Bahamas. 



The Kingbird, also called "Bee Bird" and "Bee ]\[artin," is a common 

 summer resident, and breeds throughout all of otir Eastern and Middle States, 

 and the southern portions oi' the Dominion of Canada, from Nova Scotia and 

 adjacent regions, south of about latitude 50^, and west to about longitude OC, 

 whence it ranges north through Manitoba and Saskatchewan into Athabasca, 

 beyond latitude 57°. In the South it breeds from Florida and the Gidf Coast 

 to eastern Texas, but not nearly as commonly as in the Middle and Northern 

 States. Thence it ranges in a northwesterly direction through the Indian 

 Territory and Kansas to the eastern slopes of the Rocky ]\Iountains, where it 

 is rarely found at higher altitudes than 7,000 feet. It entei'S through some of 

 the lower passes of these mountains into Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Wash- 

 ington, and British Columbia, where in certain localities it is not uncommon. I 

 believe it has not yet been observed in northwestern Texas, New Mexico, or 

 Arizona; and in California it can only be considered as a straggler. While a 

 few winter in southern Florida and the Gulf Coast, the bulk of these birds 

 migrate south into Central America, and some even into Bolivin, as v\'ell as to 

 the Island of Cuba and the Bahamas. They leave the northern portions of their 

 range about the middle of August, and linger in the south for some weeks 

 before passing our borders. 



Few of our birds ai-e better known throughout the United States than the 

 Kingbird. Bold and fearless in character, yet tame aiad confiding in man, often 

 preferring to live in close proximitA' to dwellings, in gnrdens and orchards, 

 they are prime favorites with the majoi'ity of our farming population, and they 

 well deserve their fi;llest protection. Few birds are more useful to the farmer; 

 their reputation for pugnacity and reckless courage is so well established that 



