350 THE KING BIRD. 



Another group of the Flycatchers is denominated the Alectnirinae or Cock-tailed 

 birds, a name which has been given to them on account of their habit of raising their long 

 and curiously formed tails in a manner similar to that of the domestic fowl. These birds 

 are only found in South America, and are all of small dimensions, the average length 

 being about six inches. There are many species of this group, and they differ considerably 

 in their habits and in the localities which they frequent. Some are fond of forest lands, 

 perching upon lofty branches, and fluttering from their post in chase of passing insect.';, 

 whUe others shun the wooded districts and are only found upon the low-lying lands where 

 water is plentiful, and where they find their insect food upon the leaves and stems of 

 aquatic plants. In all the species the bill is flattened towards the base and rather convex 

 at the point. 



One of the most interesting of the Alectrurine birds is the Cunningham'.s Bush 

 Shrike, which from the strong and slightly hooked beak was formerly supposed to 

 belong to the Shrike family. It is a native of South America, and haunts the thickly 

 wooded districts, foraging in many directions in search of its prey, which generally 

 consists of the larger insects. It is possessed of strong and firmly vaned wings, and is able 

 to fly with remarkable rapidity. The tail of this species is extremely elongated and deeply 

 forked, the two exterior feathers being the longest, and the others decreasing rapidly in 

 length. Even when the liird is stationary, this long tail renders it very conspicuous, but 

 when it is living and in motion, it renders the tail a very ornamental appendage, by 

 raising it so as to droop like the feathers of a cock's tail, and permitting the long plumes 

 to wave gracefully in the breeze. 



The general colour of thi.s bird is a uniform ashen grey over the upper surface, 

 covered with numerous longitudinal streaks of brown. The throat is white, with the 

 exception of a rather broad semilunar band of deep purple-brown, which marks the 

 division between the chest and the throat. The wings and tail are blackish-brown, and 

 the quill-feathers of the wing are marked with a series of longitudinal ruddy bands. 



A SECOND group of the Flycatchers is distinguished by the name of Tyranm'nte, 

 a title that has been applied to them on account of their exceedingly combative habits 

 during the season of incubation, and the tyrannous sway which they exercise over birds 

 of far greater size, powers, and armature. They are all inhabitants of America, and for 

 the greater part are found in the more tropical regions of that land. They have a very 

 shrike-like bill, and many of the shrike habits, preying not only upon insects, but 

 pouncing upon young birds, animals, and reptiles, and even adding fish to their scale of 

 diet. The beak of these birds is very large, wide at the base, and narrowing gradually to 

 the tip, where it is boldly compressed and rather strongly hooked. The angle of the 

 mouth is furnished aliundantly with long bristles, and tlie small nostrils are almost 

 entirely hidden by the feathers of the forehead. 



Several species are included in this group, among which the two birds which will be 

 described in the following pages are the most remarkable. 



The first of the Tyranninai is the well-known King Bird, or Tyrant Flycatcher, 

 celebrated by Audubon, Wilson, and many other writers on the ornithology of America. 



This very interesting bird is one of the migratory species, arriving in the United States 

 aliout the month of April, and remaining until the end of the autumn, when its young 

 are fully fledged, and able to shift for themselves. The name of King Bird has been given 

 to this species not only on account of the regal sway which it wields over most of the 

 feathered race, but also on account of the flame-coloured crest which appears whenever 

 the bird raises the feathers of the head. 



The habits of this Flycatcher are very remarkable, and have been so ably narrated by 

 Wilson, that they must be given in his own graphic language. 



" The trivial name King, as well as Tyrant, has been bestowed on this bird for its 

 extraordinary behaviour, and the authority it assumes over all others during the time of 

 breeding. At that season, his extreme affection for his mate, and for his nest and young, 

 makes him suspicious of any bird that happens to pass near his residence, so that he 

 attacks, without discrimination, any intruder. In the months of May and June, and part 



