1S56. 



NEW EXGLAXD FARMER. 



95 



•when these fail, we can at least "whistle for want 

 of thought," and so "welcome in the peaceful eve- 

 ning ;" or we may keep ourselves in a constant 

 fret, and make those about us as unhappy as an en- 

 vious and discontented spirit ever does, with our 

 murmurs that we are nothing but farmers, while 

 others are enjoying the luxury of large pay, high 

 life, and hght toil. 



But if the foregoing questions can be answered 

 in the affirmative — if we really can believe it will 

 "pay" to think and read about farming — if we begin 

 to mistrust that, after all, we are about as well off 

 as the average of other professions — how agreeably 

 does the dark side of our prospect change for the 

 brighter and more hopeful ! Let us keep it before 

 our eyes if we can. A Windsor County Boy. 



Winchester, Mass., Dec, 1855. 



JVoiihern Farmer. 



For the New England Farmer. 



TYRANT, FLY-CATCHER, OR KING 

 BIRD. 



MUSCICAPA TYRANNUS. 



This bird generally selects, for a place to build, 

 an old apple tree standing alone in some pasture 

 skirted with wood, or on some hill-side, below 

 which is a clear field with a few trees or bushes 

 thereon which will serve him for standing places ; 

 from these he sallies forth in pursuit of insects 

 that pass and repass, turning to the right, then to the 

 left, now rising in the air with quick vibrations of 

 his wings, then, with hawk-like motions, he skims 

 the surface of the ground, seizing his prey at every 

 turn he makes. Over such a field he holds su- 

 preme authority, and is a dreaded foe to black- 

 birds, crows and hawks ; even the eagle daunts not 

 his corn-age ; for he no sooner perceives his coming 

 than he lowers his body to the branch on which he 

 stands, moves his head from one side to the other, 

 raises its feathers — then launches forth to meet 

 him, uttering, as he starts, his twittering notes ; 

 the eagle no more sweeps in circles to reconnoitre 

 the field below, but starts on a direct course to rid 

 himself of his pm-suer — but it is in vain — the in- 

 trepid tormentor rises above him, dives upon his 

 back, rises again, and sweeps from side to side, 

 while with velocity the eagle dives, then mounts 

 almost perpendicularly to elude his hot charges ; but 

 such evolutions avail him nothing, he must leave 

 the king-bird's precincts, or by alighting on some 

 tall tree, when, with a few more swoops at this no- 

 ble bird, the tyrant retires ; and as he returns, hov- 

 ering triumphantly to his place, you see his head 

 move, as his eye follows the insects that he passes, 

 first on one side, then on the other, until he sees 

 one to his Hking ; he turns, or rises, as the case may 

 be, snaps him in his bill, returns to his place, strikes 

 him a few times on his stand, and devours him; 

 thus is he as merciless mth his prey, as is the 

 eagle, with whom he disputes the right to hunt 

 over the same field, and to every bird, larger than 

 himself, a teasing master, who dares intrude on his 

 presumed rights. 



After having chosen the spot, which is generally 

 on a horizontal branch, not many feet from the 

 ground, in which to locate their nest, keeping in 

 view the fact that the thickest fohage will best con- 

 ceal it, the male decends to the ground, and 

 brings to the place the first stick which commences 



the foundation of their future home. The work is 

 then carried on principally by the female, who with 

 small sticks, coarse grasses, and dry flowers of the 

 yarrow forms the outside ; and for the inside, she 

 brings small fibrous roots, but oftener fine dried gra.ss 

 and horse-hair, making a very neat and compact 

 nest. The exterior diameter of it is about five 

 inches, the interior diameter is two and three-fourths 

 inches, and the depth two inches. The eggs are 

 usually four, and sometimes five, in number ; of a 

 broad ovate form, and of a ver^- pale cream color, 

 marked with large brown spots placed in clusters 

 with others, some of a deeper, and some of a 

 Hghter purple, chiefly at the large end, and smaller 

 detached spots of the same color at the small end ; 

 they are one inch in length, six-eighths of an inch 

 in diameter. 



During the time of incubation the male presents 

 an example of the most devoted attachment to his 

 mate, rarely, if ever, shown by any of the feather- 

 ed race. While the female is performing her duty 

 of hatching her eggs, he sits near the nest, on a 

 projecting branch of the same tree, and with valor 

 defends her and the nest from all harm ; Avhile at 

 the same time, his restless eye selects for her the 

 choicest food. He also assists m hatching the 

 eggs, and appears to perform the duty Avith cheer- 

 fulness. 



In the fore part of the day the female leaves the 

 nest, and alights on the nearest stand in the field, 

 and sits pluming her feathers for some time, inter- 

 rupted at times by insects which she allows to pass, 

 by merely following them with her eye. After 

 having arranged her feathers, she is ready totake 

 her prey the first opportunity that presents itself. 

 In a few moments she launches in the air and 

 keeps upon the Aving, making a wide circuit, around 

 the field, and sometimes beyond it, before she 

 alights ; this circuit she makes several times, and 

 remains one, and sometimes two hours from the 

 nest ; when she returns the male, Avith incessant 

 twitterings, betakes himself to the most prominent 

 part of the field to pass the remainder of the day 

 in strife with other birds. 



After the young are reared they separate, and 

 you hear them no more during their stay at the 

 North ; they are seen, hoAvevcr, Avatching for insects 

 from stone Avails, posts, or fences, until about the 

 first of September, Avhenthey dejwrt for the South. 



With regard to the house-Avren, {Troglodytes 

 Adon) : This favorite and well-known bird arrives 

 in Massachusetts about the tenth of May, and im- 

 mediately commences looking up a place for its 

 nest ; they Avill select some cavity in an old apple 

 tree, or occupy a box put upon a pole, or tied on a 

 tree in the garden. A jug Avith a hole through its 

 side large enough for theii- entrance, with its neck 

 corked tightly, is generally accepted by them in pre- 

 ference to any thing else." When any one takes suflH- 

 cient care to proAide such a place for them to breed 

 in as their habits require, he will be likely to 

 have a pair of these birds about his premises, Avhose 

 loud and animated song is exceedingly pleasing, 

 and whose usefulness in destroying insects Avhich 

 prey upon fruit and vegetables, would be a re- 

 compense. 



It cannot be too strongly urged upon farmers and 

 horticultuiists to proA-ide for the Avants of useful 

 birds ; the immense number of insects destroyed 

 by them daily, for their own wants, and those of 

 their young, greatly reduces the ravages of these 



