The Bibds of El Paso County, Colokado 525 . 



follows : "The hawk, which was sailing about the valley and 

 screaming scre-e at intervals, came toward the line of trees 

 fringing the creek, when three or four Kingbirds advanced to 

 meet it. One of them flying down upon it from above alighted 

 upon the hawk's head, and seizing the fathers of the forehead 

 in its beak, straightened itself and pulled vigorously, and in 

 this attitude was carried 40 or 50 yards through the air. The 

 hawk made no effort to dislodge the Kingbird, neither did it. 

 show particular annoyance, though it turned presently and re- 

 treated in the direction from which it had come." 



Tyrannus verticalis. Arkansas Kingbird. 



Common summer resident. Arrives and departs at about 

 the same time as the preceding species. 



The Arkansas Kingbird is the most common of the three 

 species found in the County and is found through much of 

 the territory treated in this list. Between Pueblo and Coloradd 

 Springs, August 2 and 3, 1909, it was very common, and fam- 

 ily groups were frequently seen. In 1898, Aiken found breed- 

 ing near Ramah, in a quite limited area, about fifty pairs of 

 Arkansas Kingbirds, and only about eight pairs of Cassin's. 

 As noted under T. tyrannus Keyser found it breeding near 

 Ramah, and a nest he found contained three young and one 

 egg. Aiken found a nest there with eggs June 5, 1898, also 

 a number of freshly built nests which did not yet contain 

 eggs, showing that the nesting season was hardly in full swing. 

 This species is not altogether dependent upon trees for nesting 

 sites, for nests have been found in cavities in stream banks,' 

 between two fence posts, and under the rafters of a log cabin; 

 possibly the other species may use similar sites, but we have 

 not happened to notice such. In July, 1907, Aiken saw a nest 

 of this species upon the crossbar of a telegraph pole at the 

 Buttes station of the Santa Fe R. R., and the agent told him 

 the birds had nested on the same pole the previous year ; he 

 said they were a great protection to his poultry, attacking and 

 driving away every hawk which came in sight. 



