284 LAND-BIRDS. 



do in the selection of a situation for her nest, as is very natu- 

 ral, since she is generally the chief builder and occupant. 



The King-birds feed almost exclusively upon winged insects, 

 which they seize with a click of the bill, and in the manner 

 of all true Flycatchers. They perch on some bough, fence, 

 or wire, carefully watching for their prey, then make a sally, 

 and snap up a fly or even several, often returning to their 

 former post, which is usually not far from the ground, being 

 sometimes merely the stalk of a weed. They also vary this 

 mode of capture, by darting upon some insect in the grass, or 

 by hovering and skimming over the surface of water. They 

 usually fly with a rapid nervous beat of the wing, and fre- 

 quently hover, either to reconnoitre, or to feed from some flock 

 of gnats who are hovering likewise and swarming in the air. 

 They bathe by plunging into the water, after which they fly 

 to some twig, and dress their plumage. They perch rather 

 erectly, and rarely alight upon the ground, imless to pick up 

 something for their nests. 



d. Their notes are shrill twitters, which often resemble 

 those of the Swallows. They are loud, sharp, and rather 

 vehement. Among them may be heard the syllable Icing, 

 which constantly recurs. Though the King-birds are plainly 

 dressed, and though they have no song, they are entitled to 

 both our respect and affection. 



n. MYIARCHUS. 



A. CRINITUS. Great Crested Flycatcher. In New Eng- 

 land, a rare summer resident.* 



a. About nine inches long. Crown-feathers, erectile, often 

 forming a loose crest, and dark-centred. Above, " dull green- 

 ish olive," inclining to dusky on the wings and tail. Beneath, 

 pale yellow ; but throat gray (or " pale ash "). Tail-feathers, 



* A summer resident of somewhat Within a radius of twenty or thii^ty 



peculiar distribation in New England, miles of Boston to the north and west 



breeding very numerously and gener- the bird is positively rare at all seasons, 



ally in Connecticut, and commonly but to the south, in Canton and por- 



throughout much of northern New tions of Milton, it nests in almost 



England, but only very sparingly and every suitable orchard. — W. B. 

 locally in most parts of Massachusetts. 



