KINGBIRD 139 



dispossessing whole families of English Spar- 

 rows to make room for the later comer. 



Other Swallows who make their summer 

 homes with us are the Barn Swallow, who plas- 

 ters his mud nest under 

 the eaves and lines it with 

 chicken feathers; the Bank 

 Swallow, whose home is in 

 a hole in some sandy bank 

 near running water; and 

 the Rough - winged Swal- 

 low, who darts and wheels bank swallow 

 above the treetops in pur- Length 5^ inches 



suit of insects. All are good architects, and all 

 have the slim canoe-like build and arrowy wings 

 of the Swallow type. 



KINGBIRD 



Perhaps you know him better by the name 

 of Bee-Martin; and perhaps you have heard tales 

 of his quarrelsome and overbearing disposition 

 and his prowess in driving away other birds. 

 While he seems to have a grudge against Crows, 

 those well-known plunderers, and while he is not 

 afraid to tackle even a large Hawk, it is now the 

 opinion of good observers that popular accounts 

 of the Kingbird's tyranny have been much exag" 

 gerated. Of course any bird, even the peaceful 

 little Vireo, will defend its nest with spirit. 



