844 



BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



fulvous, the remiges with dull whitish; upper tail-coverts bordered with pale rusty: tail 

 tipped with pale fulvous, or brownish white. Beneath as in the adult, but jueulum 

 tinged with pale fulvous. No colored patch on vertex. 



Wing.4.4i-4.7.';: tail. 3.40-3.75; bill, from nostril, .50-. 57. depth at base. .2-1-. 27; width, .37- 

 .40; tarsus, .70-78; middle toe, .55-. 60. 



The Bee Bird or Bee Martin is a very common bird throughout 

 the State, and its general habits are well known. It is a summer resi- 

 dent, arriving in April and departing early in September. 



"No one of our common birds," says Dr. Brewer, "possesses 

 more strongly marked characteristics of manners and habits than 

 this species. Its pugnacious disposition during the breeding-season, 

 the audacious boldness with which it will attack any bird larger 

 than itself, the persistent tenacity with which it will continue these 

 attacks, and the reckless courage with which it will maintain its 

 unequal warfare, are well-known peculiarities of this interesting and 

 peculiar species. Its name. Kingbird, is given it on the supposition 

 that it is superior to aU other birds in these contests. My own 

 observations lead me to the conclusion that writers have somewhat 

 exaggerated the quarrelsome disposition of this bird. I have never, 

 or very rarely, known it to molest or attack any other birds than 

 those which its own instinct prompts it to drive away in self-defense, 

 such as Hawks, Owls, Eagles, Crows, Jays, Cuckoos and Grakles. 

 These it will always attack and drive oif to quite a distance from 

 their nests Nothing can be more striking than the intrepidity with 

 which one of these birds will pounce upon and harass birds vastly 

 larger and more powerful than itself. The liingbird is always prompt 

 to perceive the approach of one of these enemies, and always rushes 

 out to meet it. Mounting in the air high above, it pounces down 

 upon its back, upon which it will even rest, furiously pecking at the 

 exposed flanks of its victim, and only leaving it to descend again and 

 again with the same unrelenting animosity. In these encounters it 

 always comes o2 conqueror." 



Genus MYIARCHUS Cabanis. 



Mtll^rohui Oabuos, Tschudl's Fauna Peruana. 1844-16. 152. Type, Muscicapa feron 

 Omul. 



"Gkn. Ch^b. Tarsus equal to or longer than the middle toe, w*ioh is decidedly longer 

 than the hind one. Bill wider at base than half the culmen. Tail broad, long, even, or 

 slightly rounded, about equal to th« wings, which scarcely reach to the middle of the tail : 



