26 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



dent upon insect-food. They are pretty generally distribu- 

 ted over the temperate regions of North America. Their 

 voice is usually harsh and strident, though some species 

 possess an agreeable whistle. The sexes are not generally 

 distinguishable, and display but little alterations of plumage, 

 either seasonal, or otherwise. The larger species are readily 

 identified, while the smaller resemble each other so closely, 

 as to require no little tact and patience in their discrimination. 



Tyrannus Carolinensis, Baird. 



The Kingbird, or Bee Martin, as this species is not insig- 

 nificantly designated, has an extensive range, being found as 

 far south as Texas and Florida, and northward to the paral- 

 lel of 57. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, north of the 

 44th parallel, but south of this line, only as far west as the 

 Rocky Mountains. Dr. Cooper includes it among the birds 

 of California, but Mr. Allen considers the eastern declivity 

 of the Rocky Mountains, as its farthest western limit. Mr. 

 Ridsfway, however, claims to have discovered it in different 



O J ' 



portions of the Great Basin, but always less abundantly than 

 the Arkansas Flycatcher. Among the cotton-woods of the 

 Truckee valley in W. Nevada, in the fertile Salt Lake Val- 

 ley, and also in the productive ''parks" of the far distant 

 Wahsatch Mountains, it has been met with in greater or less 

 abundance. 



Throughout Nova Scotia, and even on the banks of the 

 Saskatchewan, it is quite abundant. 



In eastern Pennsylvania it is a common migrant. It 

 reaches this latitude during the latter part of April, usually 

 from the i5th to the 3Oth. For a short time after its arrival, 

 it seems to have a decided predilection for waste fields and 

 pasture-grounds, where it may often be seen in pairs, con- 

 stantly on the alert for winged insects. But as the season 

 advances, and the mating period draws near, the foregoing 

 ocalities are deserted for the more congenial habitations of 

 nan. Its busy life, unsuspicous nature, and friendly dispo- 



