KINGBIRD. 407 
though not abroad till after sunrise. His taciturnity and disin- 
clination to friendship, and familiarity in confinement, were strik- 
ing traits. His restless, quick, and side-glancing eye enabled 
him to follow the motions of his flying insect prey, and to as- 
certain precisely the infallible instant of attack. He readily 
caught morsels of food in his bill before they reached the 
ground, when thrown across the room, and on these occa- 
sions seemed pleased with making the necessary exertion. 
He had also a practice of cautiously stretching out his neck, 
like a snake, and peeping about either to obtain sight of his 
food, to watch any approach of danger, or to examine any- 
thing that appeared strange. At length we became so well 
acquainted that when very hungry he would express his grati- 
tude on being fed by a shrill twitter and a lively look, which 
was the more remarkable as at nearly all other times he was 
entirely silent. 
In a natural state he takes his station on the top of an 
apple-tree, a stake, or a tall weed, and betwixt the amusement 
of his squeaking twitter, employs himself in darting after his 
insect food. Occasionally he is seen hovering over the field, 
with beating wing, almost like a Hawk, surveying the ground or 
herbage for grasshoppers, which are a favorite diet. At other 
times these birds may be observed in companies flickering over 
still waters in the same employment, — the gratification of appe- 
tite. Now and then, during the heat of summer, they are seen 
to dip and bathe in the watery mirror ; and with this washing, 
drying, and pluming, they appear to be both gratified and 
amused. During the season of their sojourn the pair are 
often seen moving about in company, with a rapid quivering 
of the wings and a continued tremulous, shrieking twitter. 
Their energetic and amusing motions are most commonly per- 
formed in warm and fine weather, and continue, with little 
interruption, until towards the close of August. 
One of the most remarkable traits in the character of the 
Kingbird is the courage and affection which he displays for his 
mate and young ; for on his first arrival he is rather timid, and 
readily dodges before the Swallow and Purple Martin. Indeed 
