CHAPTER XXIII. 



May 28 June 3. 



THE KINGBIRD. 



Order Passeres. Suborder Clamatores. 



Family Tyrannidse. Genus Ty rannus. 



Species Tyrannus tyrannus. 



Length 8.00 to 9.00 ; wing, 4.45 to 4.75 ; tail, 3.40 to 3.75. 

 Migration North, April; south, September. 



"Far in the south, where vast Maragnon flows, 



And boundless forests unknown wilds enclose, 



Vine-tangled shores, and suffocating woods, 



Parched up with heat, or drowned with pouring floods; 



Where each extreme alternately prevails, 



And Nature sad ravages bewails; 



Lo! high in air, above those trackless wastes, 



With Spring's return the kingbird hither hastes." 



The family Tyrannidae is composed of the flycatchers and 

 has in it about three hundred and fifty species. Most of these 

 are found in tropical America, where they are much appre- 

 ciated as insect destroyers. About thirty-five species are found 

 in the United States. They are classed in the sub-order Clam- 

 atores, which is composed of the perching songless birds. 

 They have short legs, a short neck, large heads and broad, flat 

 beaks, and bristles at the base, which are of service to them 

 in entangling the insects upon which they live. Among the 

 flycatchers the kingbird undoubtedly deserves a high rank. He 

 is also called the bee bird, bee martin and tyrant fly- 

 catcher. 



