AVES— FLYCATCHER. 



507 



longer tail ; is brown where he is black ; and has not the white spot on the 

 forehead. They are most plentiful in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Derby- 



shire. Their nests are built in holes of trees. The parent birds incessantly 

 feed their young with small flies, which they catch very expertly. 



THE KING-BIRD, OR TYRANT FLYCATCHER.i 



Sometimes called the field marten, is a well known bird in the United 

 States. The name king, as well as tyrant, has been bestowed on this bird for 

 its extraordinary behavior in breeding time, and for the authority it assumes 

 over all other birds. His extreme affection for his mate, nest, and young, 

 makes him suspicious of every bird that comes near his residence, so that he 

 attacks every intruder without discrimination ; his life at this season is one 

 continued scene of broils and battles ; in which, however, he generally comes 

 off conqueror. Hawks and crows, the bald eagle, and the great black eagle, 

 all equally dread a rencontre with this merciless champion, who, as soon as 

 he perceives one of these last approaching, launches into the air to meet 



' Muscicapa tyr annus, Bonap. 



