126 THE KING-BIRD. 



fight all those furious battles we have been de- 

 scribing. 



If you would like to have some idea of his 

 appearance, and the costume he wears, I can tell 

 you. His costume is soft and glossy, and the 

 upper part is of a bluish-gray. His tail is black, 

 tipped with white. There is a bright flame- 

 coloured patch on his head, that looks very gay; 

 and his breast is white. 



He has a curious manner of flying. As he 

 moves slowly over the field, he makes a vibration 

 with his wings in the same manner as the Hawk 

 does. 



Sometimes he hovers like the Hawk, or he dives 

 down to the rich blossoms of the clover, as if to 

 sip their sweetness. Then he ascends, snapping 

 his bill, and making graceful curves in the air, 

 as he darts after various insects. 



Sometimes he takes his stand on a tall weed, 

 near which cattle are grazing. Then he waits 

 patiently, his eye following the movements of 

 the troublesome flies that come to attack the herd. 



All at once he sees a fly that looks very tempt- 



