374 



THE WESTERN KINGIMRD. 



ness. The Ixiistcrous greeting is one-third concern for his babies in the locust 

 tree lianl-by. one-lliird good fellowsliip, and tlie remainder slieer restlessness. 

 The Western Kingbird is preeminently a social creature. And by social in this 

 case we mean, of ccnirse, inclined to human society. For, altlio the bird may start 



up with vociferating 

 cries every time a 

 member of tlie be 

 sieged household sets 

 foot out of tloors. 

 one is reminded by 

 these attentions rath- 

 er of a frolicsome 

 puppy tlian of a zeal- 

 ous guardian of tlie 

 peace. Tiiose wiio 

 have Ijcen 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 w h i c h 

 would be sliriekingly 

 resented in the case 

 of strangers. 



One can readily 

 guess a utilitarian 

 consiiieration in fa- 

 vor of ranch life, 

 viz., the greater va- 

 riety and abundance 

 of insects afforded 

 Of these the King- 

 birds enjoy a practi- 

 cal monopoly by rea- 

 son of their confi- 

 dence in man. Tliey are fond of flies, moths, liuttertlies, crickets, winged 

 ants, and all tiiat sort of thing. Moreover, they eat bees. But, — [Hold on, 

 Mr. Rancher I Hon't grab tliat shot-gun and begin murdering Kingbirds] 

 they cat only drones. A bee-keeper in California was curious on this point 



4 



fM 



\^ 



Taken m Douglas Counly. Pholo by the .-tulhor 



•BKALTIKS THEY ARE." 



