WHAT BIRDS SAY AND SING 237 



threat against any other birds — he cries: "Ker-r-r, 

 Kerr-r-r, Kerr-r-r!" I have the works of at least 

 one writer, who credits tliis bird with "a soft, 

 pleasing song." I can produce perhaps two dozen 

 pictures of a number of kingbirds about the affairs 

 of home life. He has built his nest and reared his 

 brood, in one instance, not two rods from my back 

 door. I can testify to his beautiful plumage, 

 his valiant disposition, his unusually loving con- 

 sideration of his mate, and untiring devotion to his 

 young, his implicit trust in me, surpassing that of 

 all other birds, but I never heard one note of this 

 "soft, pleasing song." When he has managed 

 to sing it during my lifetime of acquaintance with 

 him, I can not imagine. 



