68 



TYRANT FLYCATCHER. 



at first very silent, until they begin to pair, and build their nest. 

 This generally takes place about the first week in May. The nest 

 is very often built in the orchard, on the horizontal branch of an 

 apple tree; frequently also, as Catesby observes, on a sassafras 

 tree, at no great height from the ground. The outside consists of 

 small slender twigs, tops of withered flowers of the plant yarrow, 

 and others, well wove together with tow and wool; and is made 

 large, and remarkably firm and compact. It is usually lined with 

 fine dry fibrous grass, and horse hair. The eggs are five, of a very 

 pale cream color, or dull white, marked with a few large spots of 

 deep purple, and other smaller ones of light brown, chiefly, tho not 

 altogether, towards the great end (see fig. 1.). They generally 

 build twice in the season. 



The King-bird is altogether destitute of song, having only the 

 shrill twitter above mentioned. His usual mode of flight is singu- 

 lar. The vibrations of his broad wings, as he moves slowly over 

 the fields, resemble those of a Hawk hovering and settling in the 

 air to reconnoitre the grovmd below ; and the object of the King- 

 bird is no doubt something similar, viz, to look out for passing in- 

 sects, either in the air, or among the flowers and blossoms below 

 him. In fields of pasture he often takes his stand, on the tops of 

 the mullein, and other rank weeds, near the cattle, and makes occa- 

 sional sweeps after passing insects, particularly the large black gad- 

 fly, so terrifying to horses and cattle. His eye moves restlessly 

 around him, traces the flight of an insect for a moment or two, 

 then that of a second, and even a third, until he perceives one to 

 his liking, when with a shrill sweep he pursues, seizes it, and re- 

 turns to the same spot again, to look out for more. This habit is 

 so conspicuous when he is watching the bee-hive, that several in- 

 telligent farmers of my acquaintance are of opinion that he picks 

 out only the drones , and never injures the working bees. Be this 

 as it may, he certainly gives a preference to one bee, and one spe- 

 cies of insect, over another. He hovers over the river, sometimes 



