PERCHING BIRDS. 



The Flycatchers, (Family Tyrannida:) number somewhat over 

 three hundred and fifty species, and are found only in America, where 

 they are most abundant in the tropics. Feeding almost exclusively on 

 insects, those species which visit the United States are of necessity 

 migratory, not more than half a dozen of the thirty species which nest 

 with us, remaining in the United States during the winter, and these 

 are found only on our southern borders. 



Flycatchers as a rule, capture their prey on the wing. When perch- 

 ing, their pose is usually erect and hawk-like. They often raise their 

 crown feathers, which in many species are somewhat lengthened, a 

 habit giving them a certain big-headed appearance. 



Flycatchers are most useful birds. The food of the Kingbird, for 

 example, a species which is erroneously believed to destroy honey bees, 

 has been found to consist of 90 per cent, insects, mostly injurious spe- 

 cies, while only fourteen out of two hundred and eighty-one stomachs 

 contained the remains of honey bees; forty of the fifty bees found be- 

 ing drones. 



The true Larks, (Family Alaudidce) are chiefly Old World birds, the 

 Skylark being the best known member of the Family. In America we 

 have only the Horned or Shore Larks, one species of which shows so 

 much climatic variation in color throughout its wide range, that no less 

 than thirteen subspecies or geographical races of it are recognized in 

 the United States. 



The Horned Lark is a bird of the plains and prairies and is less 

 common in the Atlantic States than westward. Like the Skylark it 

 sings in the air, but its vocal powers are limited and not to be com- 

 pared with those of its famous relative. 



The Crows and Jays, (Family Corvid<z} number about two hundred 

 species of which some twenty-five inhabit the western hemisphere. 

 To this family belong the Raven, Rook, Magpie and Jackdaw, all birds 

 of marked intelligence; and our Crows and Jays are fully worthy of 

 being classed with these widely known and distinguished members of 

 their family. 



The Crows and Jays, by varying their food with the season, are rare- 

 ly at loss for supplies of one kind or another and most species are repre- 

 sented throughout their ranges at all times of the year. In the more 

 northern parts of their homes, however, some of these birds are 



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