THE KINGBIRD 



The swallows and swifts spend hours on the wing, turning to 

 the right or to the left, upward or back, in pursuit of winged 

 insects. Many other birds, notably the warbler family, take occa- 

 sional flights after some insect which they have startled from the 

 leaves. The habits of another large family of birds, the Flycatchers, 

 are a compromise between these two methods of obtaining food. 

 Selecting some post of observation, such as a dead limb, a fence, 

 or the stalk of a stout weed, they wait patiently, keeping a sharp 

 watch of the air about them. At sight of an insect flying near, they 

 fly out in pursuit. If one is near enough to the bird, a click of 

 its bill will announce the fate of the insect. The Flycatchers then 

 return to the same or a neighboring perch. 



The family is not, on the whole, very good-humored ; in fact, 

 they might justly be accused of irritability and pugnacity. The 

 Kingbird, in particular, the head of the house, is noted for his 

 constant attacks on any winged creature that approaches his nest. 

 It must be admitted, however, that when nesting time is over, he 

 lives very peaceably with his neighbors; but while the female is 

 brooding the eggs or young, the excited cry of the male is constantly 

 heard, and every Crow that comes in sight is pursued, sometimes 

 for a mile. The Kingbird gets above his victim and darts down at 

 its head; the Crow can be seen wincing at each vicious jab of the 

 bill. One or two observers have actually seen the Kingbird ride 

 on the Crow's back for some distance. The Kingbird has a patch 

 of red concealed under the black feathers of his crown; when he 



