KINGBIRD. 407 



though not abroad till after sunrise. His taciturnity and disin- 

 clination to friendship, and familiarity in confinement, were strik- 

 ing traits. His restless, quick, and side-glancing eye enabled 

 him to follow the motions of his flying insect prey, and to as- 

 certain precisely the infallible instant of attack. He readily 

 caught morsels of food in his bill before they reached the 

 ground, when thrown across the room, and on these occa- 

 sions seemed pleased with making the necessary exertion. 

 He had also a practice of cautiously stretching out his neck, 

 like a snake, and peeping about either to obtain sight of his 

 food, to watch any approach of danger, or to examine any- 

 thing that appeared strange. At length we became so well 

 acquainted that when very hungry he would express his grati- 

 tude on being fed by a shrill twitter and a lively look, which 

 was the more remarkable as at nearly all other times he was 

 entirely silent. 



In a natural state he takes his station on the top of an 

 apple-tree, a stake, or a tall weed, and betwixt the amusement 

 of his squeaking twitter, employs himself in darting after his 

 insect food. Occasionally he is seen hovering over the field, 

 with beating wing, almost like a Hawk, surveying the ground or 

 herbage for grasshoppers, which are a favorite diet. At other 

 times these birds may be observed in companies flickering over 

 still waters in the same employment, — the gratification of appe- 

 tite. Now and then, during the heat of sumriier, they are seen 

 to dip and bathe in the watery mirror ; and with this washing, 

 drying, and pluming, they appear to be both gratified and 

 amused. During the season of their sojourn the pair are 

 often seen moving about in company, with a rapid quivering 

 of the wings and a continued tremulous, shrieking twitter. 

 Their energetic and amusing motions are most commonly per- 

 formed in warm and fine weather, and continue, with little 

 interruption, until towards the close of August. 



One of the most remarkable traits in the character of the 

 Kingbird is the courage and affection which he displays for his 

 mate and young ; for on his first arrival he is rather timid, and 

 readily dodges before the Swallow and Purple Martin. Indeed 



