THE KINGBIRD 331 
species of Horned Larks, ranging all the way from Mexico 
to British Columbia, some of them necessarily living in hot 
countries, and far from large bodies of water. 
THE FLYCATCHER FAMILY 
Tyrannidae 
There are many little birds, in size next above the spar- 
rows, which look as if they ought to sing; but in reality they 
do not. They are very expert at catching insects, however, 
and nothing that flies can escape them in mid-air. These 
birds make up the Family of Flycatchers, and to the farmers 
of this country every flycatcher is worth double its weight in 
pure silver. Altogether there are about thirty species. 
Tue Kinasirp,' also called the Bez “Martin” and BEE- 
Brrp, may well stand as the representative of this family. 
Whenever you see a small bird swiftly and actively chasing 
a large crow in mid-air, darting down upon the back of the 
black fellow every hundred feet or so, with a peck that sends 
a thrill of life along his keel, you may know that the gallant 
little warrior is a Kingbird, and it is driving the crow away 
from the vicinity of its nest. The performance is like that 
of a man and a mad hornet. The crow thinks not of battle, 
but only of getting on in the world, and giving the nestlings 
of his tormentor a good square mile of crowless space in which 
to grow. 
Look long enough, and you will see the Kingbird return 
from the chase, perch on his favorite dead limb at the edge of 
the field, smooth his feathers and renew his watch for flying 
1 Ty-ran'nus ty-ran'’nus. Length, 8 inches. 
