THE KING-BIRD. 123 



on which a pair of King-Birds were rearing their 

 young. As might be supposed, the battles be- 

 tween the two families were endless. No sooner 

 had the mother Fly-catcher begun to sit upon 

 her eggs than the Martin attacked her mate with 

 great violence. The King-Bird fought with his 

 usual bravery, and the conflict lasted for several 

 days. At last, the poor King-Bird was struck 

 to the ground so many times, and with such force, 

 that he died. Then it was an easy matter to 

 drive away his forlorn partner, and the Martins 

 had the tree to themselves. 



The Great Red-headed Woodpecker does not 

 tamely submit to the violence of the King-Bird. 

 On the contrary, he amuses himself by teasing 

 him, and playing a kind of bo-peep round the 

 trunk of a tree near to the place where the nest 

 is situated, and where the Woodpecker is search- 

 ing for insects. 



Out darts the furious King-Bird ; but the 

 Woodpecker is far too nimble. He disappears 

 behind the trunk in- a minute. But when the 

 baffled King-Bird has returned to his nest, back 



