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THE TYRANT FLY CATCHER. 



MUSCICAPA TYRANNUS, BriSS. 

 PLATE LXXIX. Male and Female. 



The Tyrant Fly-catcher, or, as it is commonly named, the Field 

 Martin, or King Bird, is one of the most interesting visitors of the United 

 States, where it is to be found during spring and summer, and where, 

 were its good qualities appreciated as they deserve to be, it would remain 

 unmolested. But man being generally disposed to consider in his sub- 

 jects a single fault sufficient to obliterate the remembrance of a thousand 

 good qualities, even when the latter are beneficial to his interest, and tend 

 to promote his comfort, persecutes the King Bird without mercy, and 

 extends his enmity to its whole progeny. This mortal hatred is occa- 

 sioned by a propensity which the Tyrant Fly-catcher now and then shews 

 to eat a honey-bee, which the narrow-minded farmer looks upon as ex- 

 clusively his own property, although he is presently to destroy thousands 

 of its race, for the selfish purpose of seizing upon the fruits of their la- 

 bours, which he does with as little remorse as if nature's bounties were 

 destined for man alone. 



The Field Martin arrives in Louisiana, from the south, about the 

 middle of March. Many individuals remain until the middle of Septem- 

 ber, but the greater number proceed gradually northwards, and are dis- 

 persed over every portion of the United States. For a few days after its 

 arrival, it seems fatigued and doleful, and remains perfectly silent. But 

 no sooner has it recovered its naturally lively spirits, than its sharp tre- 

 mulous cry is heard over the fields, and along the skirts of all our woods. 

 It seldom enters the forests, but is fond of orchards, large fields of clover, 

 the neighbourhood of rivers, and the gardens close to the houses of the 

 planters. In this last situation, its habits are best observed. 



Its flight has now assumed a different manner. The love-season is at 

 hand. The male and female are seen moving about through the air, with 

 a continued quivering motion of their wings, at a height of twenty or 

 thirty yards above the ground, uttering a continual, tremulous, loud 

 shriek. The male follows in the wake of the female, and both seem pant- 

 ing for a suitable place in which to form their nest. Meanwhile, they 



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