SONGLESS BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WOODLAND. 235 



house flies, mosquitoes, and vast numbers of moths and but- 

 terflies in Ijoth larval and adult stao;es. Bendire asserts that 

 Dr. Ralph told him that in Florida the Phoebe alights on the 

 backs of cattle and follows them around, catching the flies 

 on the animals, and fluttering above them in search of in- 

 sects. The only harmful habit of this bird that I have heard 

 of is also mentioned by Bendire, who says that it is said to 

 eat trout fry. 



As the young of the Phoebe are fed enormous numbers of 

 insects, as two broods are raised each year, and as in settled 

 districts the bird has largely forsaken its natural nesting 

 places for the habitations of man, it is now one of the most 

 beneficial species. From year to year, as has been proven 

 repeatedly, the liird returns to its favorite haunts ; and the 

 young birds, though driven aAvay in the fall by the parents, 

 like to find, when possible, a nesting site near their old home. 

 This gives us a hint which may be utilized to increase the 

 numbers of these birds about our farms. 



Kingbird. Bee Martin. 



Tyrannus tyrannus. 



Length. — About eight inches. 



Adult. — Above, very dark gray, crown and tail nearly black ; tail feathers 



broadly tipped with white ; a concealed orange or vermillion patch on 



crown ; wing feathers and outer tail feathers white-edged ; below, white, 



darkenmg on sides of breast. 

 Nest. — A bulky structure of straw, rootlets, .strings, feathers, etc. ; usually from 



ten to twenty feet up in an orchard tree in held or pasture ; sometimes m 



a bush on the marshy shore of a pond or river ; rarely on a post, bridge, or 



building. 

 Eggs. — Creamy white, heavily marked mainly toward the larger end with brown 



and lilac. 

 Season. — May to September. 



The Kingbird is almost as well known as the Robin or 

 Bluebird. It is common throughout most of the State, 

 except in heavily wooded regions. Bold and fearless, yet 

 confident of man's protection, it seems to prefer the neigh- 

 borhood of human habitations. It seeks its winged victims 

 by taking its stand on some orchard tree, a fence wire, a 

 post, or even a telegraph wire, where it sits turning its head 

 from side to side, always on the watch. The perfection of 

 this bird's sight is illustrated by a statement made by Miss 



