BIRDS OF KANSAS 87 



and zealous guardians of their homes. The following 

 truthful description is from " Birds of New England, ' 

 by Samuels: 



" During the mating and breeding season, the pugnac- 

 ity and courage of the Kingbird are proverbial. If any 

 bird approach the neighborhood of his nest, he immedi- 

 ately attacks it ; and, whether Crow (his particular dis- 

 like), Hawk or Eagle, the intruder is obliged to flee, so 

 fierce an onslaught does this little warrior make on him. 

 As soon as the cry of a Crow is heard, he is all activity; 

 he flies from the tree where he is perching to reconnoiter, 

 uttering his shrill twitter, and vibrating his wings in 

 short, quick, nervous strokes ; as soon as the Crow appears, 

 the Kingbird pursues it, his flight being now very swift 

 and powerful. As soon as he nears his foe, he flies above 

 him, and darting down on his back and head, attacks him 

 with such vigor, that the Crow dives and dodges to avoid 

 him. He repeats his attacks, and follows his enemy, 

 sometimes to the distance of a mile or more ; then, return- 

 ing to his mate, he perches on the tree by her nest, and 

 twitters a volley of courageous songs." [Song is not the 

 word, for its notes are not musical, but rather a harsh, 

 exulting twitter.] 



" The food of the Kingbird consists mostly of insects,* 

 which he captures usually while on the wing. It seems 

 a provision of nature, that all the flycatchers shall only 

 take those insects that have taken flight from the foliage 

 of trees and shrubs, at the same time making the warblers 

 and other birds capture those which remain concealed in 

 such places. The Kingbird, in seizing a flying insect, 



* Berries also help to make up their bill of fare, the pokeberry being the favorite. 



