206 THE TYRANT FLYCATCHER— KING BIRD. 



probably for a mile, when, satisfied that he has done his duty, he gives his 

 wings their usual quivering motion, and returns exulting and elated to his 

 nest, trilling his notes all the while. 



Few Hawks will venture to approach the farm-yard while the King Bird 

 is near. Even the cat in a great measure remains at home; and, should she 

 appear, the little warrior, fearless as the boldest Eagle, plunges towards her, 

 with such rapid and violent motions, and so perplexes her with attempts to 

 peck on all sides, that grimalkin, ashamed of herself, returns discomfited to 

 the house. 



The many eggs of the poultry which he saves from the plundering Crow, 

 the many chickens that are reared under his protection, safe from the clutches 

 of the prowling Hawks, the vast number of insects which he devours, and 

 which would otherwise torment the cattle and horses, are benefits conferred 

 by him, more than sufficient to balance the few raspberries and figs which 

 he eats, and calculated to insure for him the favour and protection of man. 



The King Bird fears none of his aerial enemies save the Martin; and al- 

 though the latter frequently aids him in protecting his nest, and watching 

 over the farm-yard, it sometimes attacks him with such animosity as to force 

 him to retreat, the flight of the Martin being so superior to that of the King 

 Bird in quickness and power, as to enable it to elude the blows which the 

 superior strength of the latter might render fatal. I knew an instance in 

 which some Martins, that had been sole proprietors of a farm-yard for seve- 

 ral seasons, shewed so strong an antipathy to a pair of King Birds, which had 

 chanced to build their nest on a tree within a few yards of the house, that, 

 no sooner had the female begun to sit on her eggs, than the Martin attacked 

 the male with unremitting violence for several days, and, notwithstanding 

 his courage and superior strength, repeatedly felled him to the ground, until 

 he at length died of fatigue, when the female was beaten off in a state of de- 

 spair, and forced to seek a new protector. 



The King Bird is often seen passing on the wing over a field of clover, 

 diving down to the very blossoms, and reascending in graceful undulations, 

 snapping his bill, and securing various sorts of insects, now and then varying 

 his mode of chase in curious zigzag lines, shooting to the right and left, up 

 and down, as if the object which he is pursuing were manoeuvring for the 

 purpose of eluding him. 



About the month of August, this species becomes comparatively mute, and 

 resorts to the old abandoned fields and meadows. There, perched on a fence- 

 stake or a tall mullein stalk, he glances his eye in various directions, watch- 

 ing the passing insects, after which he darts with a more direct motion than 

 in spring. Having secured one, he returns to the same or another stalk, 

 beats the insect, and then swallows it. He frequently flies high over the 



