KINGBIRD. 409 



live in peace near him when feeding on similar food ; and 

 though lame of a wing, he often watched his opportunity for 

 reprisal and revenge, and became so jealous that, instead of 

 being amused by companions, sometimes he caught hold of 

 them with his bill, and seemed inclined to destroy them- for 

 invading his usurped privileges. In September the Kingbird 

 begins to leave the United States and proceeds to pass the 

 winter in tropical America. During the period of migration 

 southward, Audubon remarks that they fly and sail through the 

 air with great ease at a considerable elevation ; and they thus 

 continue their silent retreat throughout the night until about 

 the first of October, when they are no longer to be seen 

 within the limits of the Middle States. 



We now know that the Kingbird ranges throughout North 

 America from the tropics- to the lower fur countries, though 

 not common west of the Rockies. 



All lovers of birds and of justice will thank Mrs. Olive Thorne 

 Miller for her noble defence of this chivalrous and much maligned 

 bird, which appeared in the " Atlantic Monthly " for August, 1890. 

 The systematists have dubbed him " tyrant of the tvrants," but 

 his friends know him to be a true knight, the real " king of the 

 air." Mrs. Miller credits the Kingbird with "a soft and very- 

 pleasing song," which she has heard " only in the very early 

 mornins:." 



Note. — The Arkansas Kingbird (7*. vei-ticalis) differs from 

 tyrannus in being light ashy gray on head, neck, and breast, and 

 other lower parts yellow. In size the two birds are much the same, 

 some examples of the Western form being slightly larger. 



Its habitat is the Western plains; but specimens have been 

 taken in the Middle and Northern States. 



