Plate VI. 



TYR/\NNUS OAROUNENSIS-Kingbird. 



The Beebird, a>s this species is commonly called, arrives in Ohio the last of April; nest-building 

 begins the third week in May, or may be delayed by unfavorable weather until the first of June. Two 

 broods are frequently raised during the season. 



LOCALITY: 



The nests may be found in suitable localities throughout the entire state. Old apple and pear trees, 

 both in toAvn and country, and other trees standing alone or in detached clumps in open districts, 

 furnish desirable and noticeable situations, while woodlands are avoided. 



But, notwithstanding this very general distribution, the Kingbird seems to display a natural 

 penchant for well watered regions. Isolated sycamores and elms in low lands, or in the neighborhood 

 of streams, being especially frequented and typical sites. 



POSITIOTsT : 



The nest is placed either in a horizontal or j^^rp^^^i^^^^^ fork, or, partly saddled upon a limb, is 

 held firmly by small branches which grow from about the principal point of support. Its distance from 

 the ground is from three to forty feet, usually not lower than eight or higher than twenty feet. 



MATERIALS : 



The materials of construction are numerous, and vary somewhat with locality and position. The 

 foundation and superstructure generally consist of any rubbish at hand, such as dried grasses, Aveed 

 stems and fibres, sticks, rootlets, bits of vegetable doAvn and wool, firmly matted together, forming a 

 rough or eA^en slouchy exterior ; and coated inside Avith plaster composed of rotten Avood and decayed 

 vegetable material, finely ground together, and firmly pressed against the Avails Avithin half an inch of 

 the rim; Avhen dry, it crumbles into powder on the slightest j^i'essure. 



The lining is formed of slender grasses, chicken feathers, horse hairs, fibres, rootlets, and avooI, used 

 singly or combined in various proportions. It is by no means rare to find a nest made up of flaxen 

 fibres and grasses, and lined Avith dark broAvn or blackish rootlets. But of all the different materials 

 used in construction, feathers, black horse hairs, round grasses, and plaster, are, according to our obser- 

 A^ation, the most constant. Ornamentation is sometimes a prominent feature; any substance Avhich seems 

 to strike the bird's fancy, and is accessible, is used — such as avooI, feathers, or corn silk. 



The inside depth is from one and one-eighth, to one and five-eighths, inches ; the inside diameter 

 rarely varies half an inch from three inches; the outside diameter at the rim is from four to fiA^e 

 inches ; an average of five specimens is four inches. 



EGGS: 



The complement of eggs is from four to six; the ground color is creamy Avhite, dotted and blotched 



51 



