374 THE WESTERN KINGBIRD. 
ness. ‘The boisterous greeting is one-third concern for his babies in the locust 
tree hard-by, one-third good fellowship, and the remainder sheer restlessness. 
The Western Kingbird is preeminently a social creature. And by social in this 
case we mean, of course, inclined to human society. For, altho the bird may start 
up with vociferating 
cries every time a 
member of the be- 
sieged household sets 
foot out of doors, 
one is reminded by 
these attentions rath- 
er of a frolicsome 
puppy than of a zeal- 
ous guardian of the 
peace. Those who 
have been most hon- 
ored by their pres- 
ence year after year 
claim that the birds 
become fond of cer- 
tain members of the 
family, and allow a 
familiarity in nest 
inspection which 
would be shriekingly 
resented in the case 
of strangers. 
One can _ readily 
guess a_ utilitarian 
consideration in fa- 
vor of ranch life, 
viz., the greater va- 
riety and abundance 
of insects afforded. 
Of these the King- 
Taken in Douglas County. Photo by the Author birds enjoy a practi- 
“BEAUTIES THEY ARE.” cal monopoly by rea- 
son of their confi- 
dence in man. ‘They are fond of flies, moths, butterflies, crickets, winged 
ants, and all that sort of thing. Moreover, they eat bees. But,—[Hold on, 
Mr. Rancher! Don’t grab that shot-gun and begin murdering Kingbirds] 
they eat only drones. A bee-keeper in California was curious on this point 
