The Kingbird 135 



sue the hawks, crows and jays, not from mischievous motives, 

 but in defense of their nests and young, and because of this 

 fact it is well for farmers to protect them, since by doing so 

 they have on guard sentinels for the protection of their do- 

 mestic fowls and their nests from the rapacious hawks and the 

 egg robbing of the crows and jays. 



The kingbird was one of the favorites of Alexander Wil- 

 son, the ornithologist, who not only had a scientific knowledge 

 of the value of our birds, but could tell what he knew about 

 them both in prose and verse. In his account of the kingbird 

 he makes the following pathetic appeal for its protection : 



"Ah friend! good friend! forbear that barbarous deed, 



Against it valor, goodness, pity plead; 



If e'er a family's grief, a widow's woe, 



Have reached thy soul, in mercy let him go! 



Yet, should the tear of pity naught prevail, 



Let interest speak, let gratitude prevail; 



Kill not thy friend who thy whole harvest shields, 



And sweeps ten thousand vermin from thy fields; 



Think how this dauntless bird, thy poultry's guard, 



Drove every hawk and eagle from thy yard; 



Watched round thy cattle as they fed, and slew 



The hungry blackening swarms that round them flew; 



Some small retu-rn, some little right resign, 



And spare his life whose services are thine." 



