THEIR SUBLIME CONFIDENCE 187 



they are sure the nest is safe and they have 

 sublime confidence in their ability to defend 

 their own. 



What should above all commend these 

 birds to our friendship, not one of them, so 

 far as I know, ever disturbs the fruits of the 

 earth, which we claim for our own. Their 

 food is, without exception, I believe, the in- 

 sect life that is a pest to us. Even the king- 

 bird, who is accused of eating bees, has been 

 proved many times to take only the drones. 

 For once, a name has been well bestowed ; 

 they are, in fact, as in name, flycatchers. 



