﻿A Kingbird Family 



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and, as far as possible, of the kind. The average intervals between her 

 returns was three to four minutes. There seemed to be no limit to the 

 capacity of the young. 



The food consisted in large part of grasshoppers, katydids and crickets, 

 with an occasional butterfly or caterpillar. I thought once that a raspberry 

 was given them, but fruit formed no part of the regular diet. The insects 

 were picked up in the grass within sight of the nest, and given to the young 

 with most of the legs and wings on. 



CLEANING THE NEST; YOUNG THIRTEEN DAYS OLD 



The mother frequently went through a very amusing performance when 

 feeding her nestlings. Her behavior on alighting at the nest and finding two 

 yellow, wide-open mouths extended toward her as far as the supporting 

 necks would allow, was indicative either of indecision or of a very malicious 

 desire to tease. My first glimpse of these actions was a very interesting one 

 and will serve as an illustration of her habit. 



She had brought a large grasshopper and received the usual welcome 

 from the children at home. After a momentary hesitation, it went to the 

 one that held his head the highest and opened his mouth the widest. 

 Sturdy as he was, he could not swallow such a huge and not very smooth 



