THE KINGBIRD 



By T. GILBERT PEARSON 



THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AUDUBON SOCIETIES 

 Educational Leaflet No. 81 



As I made my way one spring morning among the clump of reeds 

 along the margin of a southern lake, keeping a sharp lookout for the 

 deadly water-moccasin snakes, I was startled by an unusual sound. It 

 seemed to come from overhead, and just a little behind me. Turning, I 

 beheld a Hawk darting sharply downward, and only a few feet in front 

 of it a little Spotted Sandpiper was fleeing for its life. By the smallest 

 fraction of a second the Sandpiper avoided the murderous clutch of its 

 enemy, and then dashed into a thin growth of grass. The Hawk veered 



A KINGBIRD'S NEST AND EGGS 

 From a Photograph by A. D. Whedon 



sharply upward, wheeled around, paused an instant on outstretched wings, 

 and then, catching sight of its prey, was in the act of plunging again, 

 when, like a bolt from a clear sky. something struck it in the back. This 

 something proved to be a small black-and-white bird, which, with sharp, 

 clattering notes and snapping bill, struck continually at the great hawk- 

 many times its size. 



The hawk at once forgot how hungry it was, and lost sight of the 

 panting, frightened sandpiper, which lay almost helpless on the ground 



