THE KING-BIRD. 



PLATE XL. 



Class Aves. Order Passeres : birds of passage. Genm 

 Muscicapa : flycatcher. Species Are sixteen in num- 

 ber. 



The following is mostly extracted from Mr. Wilson's Ornithology of the 

 United States, and is very full on the subject. 



THIS is the Field Martin of Maryland and some of the 

 southern states, and the King-bird of Pennsylvania and 

 several of the northern districts. The epithet Tyrant, which 

 is generally applied to him by naturalists, I am not altogether 

 so well satisfied with ; some, however, may think the two 

 terms pretty nearly synonymous. 



The trivial name King as well as Tyrant has been bestow- 

 ed on this bird for its extraordinary behavior, and the autho- 

 rity it assumes over all others, during the time of breeding. 

 At that season his extreme affection for his mate, and for his 

 nest and young, makes him suspicious of every bird that hap- 

 pens to pass near his residence, so that he attacks without 

 discrimination, every intruder. In the months of May, June, 

 and part of July, his life is one continued scene of broils and 

 battles, in which, however, he generally comes off conqueror. 

 Hawks and crows, the bald eagle, and the great black eagle, 

 all equally dread a recontre with this dauntless little cham- 

 pion, who, as soon as he perceives one of these last approach- 

 ing, lanches into the air to meet him, mounts to a considerable 

 height above him, and darts down on his back, sometimes 

 fixing there to the great annoyance of his sovereign, who, if 

 no convenient retreat or resting place be near, endeavors by 

 various evolutions to rid himself of his merciless adversary. 

 But the King-bird is not so easily dismounted. He teazes 

 the eagle incessantly, sweeps upon him from right and left, 



