KING BIRD. 173 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



.V </*, placed in trees, rntlier bulky structures, composed of grass, weeds, of which the common everlasting usually forms 

 the urrater part, and roots, lined with fine grass and rootlets. Dimensions, external diameter, 4'50, internal, 2'50. Exter- 

 nal depth. 2-M. internal, 1'50. 



<. four to five in number, oval in form, pale-buff in color, spotted and blotched irregularly with umber and lilac. 

 Dimen-ioiis from 1 '00 x '75 to '85 x '65. 



HABITS. 



About the second week in May, when the advancing vegetation has given assurance 

 that the cold season has fairly passed, the peculiar, shrill, continuous cries of the King 

 Birds are heard in the open fields and orchards of New England. The males arrive first 

 and with a characteristic promptness which this species ever displays, each individual selects 

 some particular spot as a home and guards it with great assiduity. A few days later the 

 females arrive and both soon begin the duties of nest building. The King Birds in certain 

 districts appear to prefer particular kinds of trees in which to place their domiciles. Thus 

 in some sections it is quite difficult to find a nest which is not built in a buttonwood. In 

 other localities the birds select apple trees, while in some places they show a predilection for 

 bushes which overhang the water. They never build in very close assemblies for in no case 

 will one pair allow another to settle very near them, but they sometimes exhibit a decid- 

 ed inclination to sociability by building in detached communities. When family affairs 

 are fairly under way, and the female is sitting, the male redoubles his watchfulness but 

 when the young appear both parents guard the vicinity of the nest with the most jealous 

 care. Then, all such enemies to small birds as Crows and Hawks are obliged to exercise 

 care while passing near a King Bird's nest, for upon the appearance of one of these birds 

 he is instantly attacked with a fury that cannot be resisted, for the King Bird is both 

 powerful and agile. I have seen an unfortunate Crow which was merely flying over an 

 (in-hard in which a pair of these irascible birds had a home, assailed and not only driven 

 from the spot but pursued for half a mile. 



The boldness of the King Birds is noticeable and their attacks even to species much 

 lamer than themselves is no trifling matter, for they do not, like many other birds under 

 similar circumstances, merely dash at the object of their dislike and pass it without touch- 

 ing it, but they stvikc so hard with their sharp beaks as to frequently make the feathers 

 fly. At any rate, I never saw a Crow or Hawk but what would retreat as hastily as possi- 

 ble, their usual plan being to rise very high in the air, thus escaping the persecutions of 

 the persistant little tyrants. Even cats arc ignominiously driven from the field by the brave 

 King Birds. Cats are very cowardly when they are obliged to encounter any danger 

 which they do not understand, and I once saw one badly frightened by a Chipping Sparrow. 

 This particular animal was notably brave and would seldom retreat before a dog, but in 

 the case in hand the Sparrow alighted directly upon her head as she was about to spring 

 upon its young, chirping loudly, at the same time pecking her ears fiercely. The Cat 

 was completely mystified by this strange proceeding and instantly rushed away, shaking 

 her head as she ran, thus dismounting the bird. The downward swoops of the Flycatchers 

 which are always accompanied by loud screams judiciously delivered by the birds at the 



