268 TYRANT FLYCATCHER. 



in the air like a Swallow; for he possesses at will great powers 

 of wing. Numbers of them are frequently seen thus engaged, 

 for hours together, over the rivers Delaware and Schuylkill, in 

 a calm day, particularly towards evening. He bathes himself 

 by diving repeatedly into the water from the overhanging 

 branches of some tree; where he sits to dry and dress his plu- 

 mage. 



Whatever antipathy may prevail against him for depredations 

 on the drones, or if you will, on the bees, I can assure the cul- 

 tivator, that this bird is greatly his friend, in destroying mul- 

 titudes of insects whose larvae prey on the harvests of his fields, 

 particularly his corn, fruit trees, cucumbers, and pumpkins. 

 These noxious insects are the daily food of this bird; and he de- 

 stroys, upon a very moderate average, some hundreds of them 

 daily. The death of every King-bird is therefore an actual loss 

 to the farmer, by multiplying the numbers of destructive in- 

 sects; and encouraging the depredations of Crows, Hawks, and 

 Eagles, who avoid as much as possible his immediate vicinity. 

 For myself, I must say, that the King-bird possesses no com- 

 mon share of my regard. I honour this little bird for his extreme 

 affection for his young; for his contempt of danger, and unex- 

 ampled intrepidity; for his meekness of behaviour when there 

 are no calls on his courage, a quality which even in the human 

 race is justly considered so noble; 



" In peace there's nothing so becomes a man 

 " As modest stillness and humility; 

 " But when the blast of war," &c. &c. 



but above all, I honour and esteem this bird for the millions of 

 ruinous vermin which he rids us of; whose depredations, in one, 

 season, but for the services of this and other friendly birds, 

 would far overbalance all the produce of the bee-hives in fifty. 

 As a friend to this persecuted bird, and an enemy to preju- 

 dices of every description, will the reader allow me to set this 

 matter in a somewhat clearer and stronger light, by presenting 

 him with a short poetical epitome of the King-bird's history? 



