Dusky, Gray, and Slate-colored 



love of it, without provocation, rhyme, or reason. One can but 

 watch with a degree of admiration his bold sallies on the big, 

 black crow or the marauding hawk, but when he bullies the 

 small inoffensive birds in wanton attacks for sheer amusement, 

 the charge is less entertaining. Occasionally, when the little vic- 

 tim shows pluck and faces his assailant, the kingbird will literally 

 turn tail and show the white feather. His method of attack is 

 always when a bird is in flight; then he swoops down from the 

 telegraph pole or high point of vantage, and strikes on the head or 

 back of the neck, darting back like a flash to the exact spot from 

 which he started. By these tactics he avoids a return blow and 

 retreats from danger. He never makes a fair hand-to-hand fight, 

 or whatever is equivalent in bird warfare. It is a satisfaction to 

 record that he does not attempt to give battle to the catbird, but 

 whenever in view makes a grand detour to give him a wide berth. 

 The kingbird feeds on beetles, canker-worms, and winged 

 insects, with an occasional dessert of berries. He is popularly 

 supposed to prefer the honeybee as his favorite tidbit, but the 

 weight of opinion is adverse to the charge of his depopulating the 

 beehive, even though he owes his appellation bee martin to this 

 tradition. One or two ornithologists declare that he selects only 

 the drones for his diet, which would give him credit for marvel- 

 lous sight in his rapid motion through the air. The kingbird is 

 preeminently a bird of the garden and orchard. The nest is 

 open, though deep, and not carefully concealed. Eggs are nearly 

 round, bluish white spotted with brown and lilac. With truly 

 royal exclusiveness, the tyrant favors no community of interest, 

 but sits in regal state on a conspicuous throne, and takes his 

 grand flights alone or with his queen, but never with a flock of 

 his kind. 



Wood Pewee 



(Contopus virens) Flycatcher family ■ 



Length — 6.50 inches. A trifle larger than the English sparrow. 



Male — Dusky brownish olive above, darkest on head ; paler on 

 throat, lighter still underneath, and with a yellowish tinge 

 on the dusky gray under parts. Dusky wings and tail, the 

 wing coverts tipped with soiled white, forming two indistinct 

 bars. Whitish eye-ring. Wings longer than tail. 



Female — Similar, but slightly more buff underneath. 



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