638 
ing on oats, but this is accounted for by 
the fact that oats grow wild over much 
of the state. Weed seeds are the largest 
single element of food. The insect food, 
about 20 per cent of the whole, includes 
such pests as May beetles and their 
larvae (white grubs), leaf beetles, clover- 
leaf and clover-root weevils, the potato- 
stalk borer, nut weevils, billbugs, and the 
chinch bug. Grasshoppers are a favorite 
food, and cutworms are freely eaten. The 
horned larks, on the whole, may be con- 
sidered useful birds. 
Arkansas Kingbird 
Tyrannus verticalis 
Length, nine inches. The white edge 
of the feather on each side of the tail 
distinguishes this from all other fly 
eatchers except the gray and salmon- 
colored scissortail of Texas. 
Range 
Breeds from Minnesota, Kansas and 
Texas to the Pacific ocean and from 
Northern Mexico to Southern Canada; 
winters from Mexico to Guatemala. 
Habits and Economic Status 
The Arkansas kingbird is not so do- 
mestic as its Eastern relative and seems 
to prefer the hill country with scattered 
oaks rather than the orchard or the vi- 
cinity of ranch buildings, but it some- 
times places its rude and conspicuous nest 
in trees on village streets. The bird’s 
yearly food is composed of 87 per cent 
animal matter and 13 per cent vegetable. 
The animal food is composed almost en- 
tirely of insects. Like the Hastern spe- 
cies, it has been accused of destroying 
honeybees to a harmful extent, and re- 
mains of honeybees were found to con- 
stitute five per cent of the food of the 
individuals examined, but nearly all those 
eaten were drones. Bees and wasps, in 
general, are the biggest item of food (38 
per cent), grasshoppers and crickets 
Stand next (20 per cent), and beetles, 
mostly of noxious species, constitute 14 
per cent of the food. The vegetable food 
consists mostly of fruit, such as the elder 
and other berries, with a few seeds, This 
bird should be strictly preserved. 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
Kingbird 
Tyrannus tyiannus 
Length, about eight and one-half 
inches. The white lower surface and 
white-tipped tail distinguish this fly 
catcher. 
Range 
Breeds throughout the United States 
(except the southwestern part) and 
Southern Canada; winters from Mexico 
to South America. 
Habits and Economie Status 
The kingbird is a pronounced enemy of 
hawks and crows, which it vigorously at- 
tacks at every opportunity, thereby af- 
fording efficient protection to nearby 
poultry yards and young chickens at 
large. It loves the open country and is 
especially fond of orchards and _ trees 
about farm buildings. No less than 8&5 
per cent of its food consists of insects, 
mostly of a harmful nature. It eats the 
common rose chafer or rose bug, and 
more remarkable still it devours blister 
beetles freely. The bird has been accused 
of eating honeybees to an injurious ex- 
tent, but there is little ground for the 
accusation, as appears from the fact that 
examination of 634 stomachs showed only 
61 bees in 22 stomachs. Of these 51 were 
useless drones. On the other hand, it 
devours robber flies, which catch and de- 
stroy honeybees. Grasshoppers and 
crickets, with a few bugs and some cut 
worms, and a few other insects, make up 
the rest of the animal food. The veget- 
able food consists of fruit and a few 
seeds. The kingbird deserves full pro- 
tection. 
Nighthawk 
Chordeiles virginianus 
Length, 10 inches. Not to be confused 
with the whippoorwill. The latter lives 
in woodland and is chiefly nocturnal. The 
nighthawk often flies by day, when the 
white bar across the wing and its nasal 
cry are distinguishing. 
Range 
Breeds throughout most of the United 
States and Canada; winters in South 
America. 
