The Rambles of an Idler 



representatives of a family of birds known as 

 the tyrant flycatchers. They are not musical, 

 nor brightly plumaged, nor noticeable because 

 of size or by their numbers; but greater than 

 all these features of bird-life, they have one 

 merit, indomitable pluck. Long before Riche- 

 lieu petulantly exclaimed there was no such 

 word as ' * fail, ' ' these flycatchers knew the fact 

 and cheerfully accepted its significance. The 

 flycatcher's life depends upon capturing fleet- 

 winged insects in mid-air. There is equal ad- 

 vantage, and success by no means crowns every 

 effort of the bird. I have often seen the pur- 

 suer and pursued darting frantically here and 

 there, speeding like lightning, skyward and 

 earthward, and when the chase seemed at an 

 end, safety came to the insect and the baffled 

 bird returned, panting and exhausted, to its 

 perch. 



A moment's rest is all it asks. There is no 

 seductive thought that life's lines are drawn too 

 tight. The single aim is to capture living in- 

 sects, and again the bird sights its prey. Again 

 the rapid wings are in motion, again the skillful 

 turning and twisting and at length, success, on 

 the bird 's part, is secure. 



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