The Kingbird 133 



chapter are two of his pictures, one showing an unusual home 

 for the kingbird and the other young kingbirds. When the 

 kingbirds have once selected a nesting site, like many other 

 species, if not disturbed, they will return to it for many years. 

 This has been true of a pair of them which have nested at 

 Somerleaze. The nest is usually well and compactly built of 

 weeds, grass, moss, rootlets, small twigs, and lined with fine 

 grass, horse-hair and other light material. The male assists 

 in the construction of the nest, and to some extent in the du- 

 ties of incubation. In doing this, however, he shows his rest- 

 lessness and pugnacity, for every few minutes he elevates his 

 crest and looks around for a possible enemy. The number 

 of eggs varies from three to five. The ground color of the 

 eggs varies from white or pale creamy white to a very faint 

 rose pink, and are spotted and blotched with chestnut brown 

 and light lilac gray. Incubation lasts from twelve to thirteen 

 days, and in about two weeks the young are able to leave the 

 nest. Two broods are sometimes reared. The young are fed 

 exculsively upon insects. 



The feeding habits of the kingbird are interesting and 

 in this respect the flycatchers are all alike. Flycatcher does 

 not mean a bird that lives on flies exclusively, as the name 

 would seem to imply, but one which, as a rule, lives on flying 

 insects which it catches while in flight. For instance, the king- 

 bird will be seen seated on his perch, which at Buzzard's 

 Roost is the topmost branch of a bitter hickorynut tree that 

 stands near the cottage ; from this perch he sallies forth and 

 darts upon his prey in midair. It is wonderful how far away 

 he can see passing insects, and with what certainty he catches 

 them, and when he does this, if you are near by you can hear 

 the click of his mandibles. Having caught his prey, he wheels 

 about, returns to his point of observation and resumes his 

 watch for more. In returning he makes much noise and seems 

 to be rejoicing over his success, and so Mr. Ernest Seton 

 Thompson has labeled his picture of him, "Victory." 



Professor Beal of the United States Department of Ag- 

 riculture made an extensive examination of the food of the 

 kingbird, and his report of his investigations shows that about 

 ninety per cent, of it consists of animal matter, principally 



