RESPECT FOR THE KINGBIRDS 125 



appearance of perfect leisure. Some of them 

 are rather autocratic in their claims to a 

 neighborhood, but they make up for it by 

 their willingness to earn the place by vigilant 

 care of it, and besides, who has a better 

 right ? 



One flycatcher was absent here, and I did 

 not regret him, for he is very much in evi- 

 dence almost everywhere, and is an autocrat 

 wherever found. This is the least flycatcher, 

 and when I hear his jerky " ehebec," I know 

 I shall see few other birds. 



A pair of kingbirds had a nest in the or- 

 chard, and that I am always glad to see, for 

 I have high respect for the kingbird. His 

 manners are reserved and show common 

 sense. He does not go into foolish panics, 

 nor consider it his business to dictate to the 

 neighborhood, as does the robin, for example. 

 He also has sense to discriminate between 

 one with evil intentions and a harmless gazer 

 at the nest. In all my study of kingbirds' 

 nests I have never met with discourtesy from 

 one. 



With the advent of August came a change 

 over the old grove. First sounded the toy- 



