BIRDS IN THE RAIN 205 



upright as usual, making not the slightest 

 effort to get food. They did not fly out after 

 insects ; indeed, no insect could be abroad in 

 the steady rain. They did not attempt to 

 take anything from the tree, and they never 

 went to the ground. 



I sat on the piazza for several consecutive 

 hours every day, and watched them con- 

 stantly, for there was nothing else to watch. 

 Not only did they seek no food, they also 

 appeared to scorn to protect themselves from 

 the rain. They took the most exposed posi- 

 tions, outside dead twigs which these birds 

 always like to perch on, and sat there like 

 philosophers, without moving a muscle, so 

 far as could be seen. They might have been 

 wooden birds, for all the life they exhibited. 

 On the third day of constant rain the king- 

 birds did not appear. 



The kingbird is constantly called bellig- 

 erent, and I have always watched closely 

 to see his treatment of other birds. I never 

 saw a kingbird object to any one except a 

 robin alighting on his nest-tree, the spot 

 above all others a bird regards as private 

 property, and protects almost with his life. 



