TYRANT FL YCA TCHER, OR KING BIRD. 2 2 1 



kins. These noxious insects are the daily food of this bird ; 

 and he destroys, upon a very moderate average, some hundreds 

 of them daily. The death of every king bird is therefore an 

 actual loss to the farmer, by multiplying the numbers of 

 destructive insects, and encouraging the depredations of crows, 

 hawks, and eagles, who avoid as much as possible his immediate 

 vicinity. For myself, I must say, that the king bird possesses 

 no common share of my regard. I honour this little bird for 

 his extreme affection for his young ; for his contempt of 

 danger, and unexampled intrepidity ; for his meekness of 

 behaviour when there are no calls on his courage, a quality 

 which, even in the human race, is justly considered so noble : 



In peace there's nothing so becomes a man 

 As modest stillness and humility ; 

 But when the blast of war, &c. 



But, above all, I honour and esteem this bird for the millions 

 of ruinous vermin which he rids us of ; whose depredations, 

 in one season, but for the services of this and other friendly 

 birds, would far overbalance all the produce of the beehives 

 in fifty. 



As a friend to this persecuted bird, and an enemy to pre- 

 judices of every description, will the reader allow me to set 

 this matter in a somewhat clearer and stronger light, by pre- 

 senting him with a short poetical epitome of the king bird's 

 history ? 



Far in the south, where vast Maragnon flows, 

 And boundless forests unknown wilds enclose ; 

 Vine-tangled shores, and suffocating woods, 

 Parched up with heat, or drowned with pouring floods ; 

 Where each extreme alternately prevails, 

 And Nature sad their ravages bewails; 

 Lo ! high in air, above those trackless wastes, 

 With Spring's return the king bird hither hastes ; 

 Coasts the famed Gulf,* and, from his height, explores 

 Its thousand streams, its long indented shores, 



* Of Mexico. 



