1 84 



Wild Birds 



a fiy who owed its life to its small size. As she opened her bill 

 in her attempt to land it safely in an open throat, the fly darted 

 off. The bird seemed dazed for a moment, and stood gazing at 

 the departing fly as if in mute astonishment. 



Exciting scenes usually follow at the nest of the Kingbird 



Fig. 114. Kingbirds bruising a too active grasshopper between their bills prepara- 

 tory to serving it to the young : the female in front with tail full-spread. 



when a large dragon-fly, cicada, or grampus is brought to the 

 family circle. The insect often struggles hard, but escape is 

 out of the question, especially with both birds at the nest, who 

 at once begin to rend and crush it with their bills. 



The male grampus (Corydalus cornutus), better known as the 

 larval hellgamite of which black bass are sometimes extremely 

 fond, has long gray wings folded back over the body when at 



