TYRANT FLYCATCHER 



69 



for a considei-able time, darting after insects that frequent such 

 places, snatching them from the surface of the water, and diving 

 about in the air like a Swallow; for he possesses at will great 

 powers of wing. Numbers of them are frequently seen thus en- 

 gaged, for hours together, over the rivers Delaware and Schuylkill, 

 in a calm day, particularly towards evening. He bathes himself 

 by diving repeatedly into the water from the overhanging branches 

 of some tree; where he sits to dry and dress his plumage. 



Whatever antipathy may prevail against him for depredations 

 on the drones, or if you will, on the bees, I can assure the cultiva- 

 tor, that this bird is greatly his friend, in destroying multitudes of 

 insects whose larvae prey on the harvests of his fields, particularly 

 his corn, fruit trees, cucumbers, and pumpkins. These noxious in- 

 sects 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 mul- 

 tiplying 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 honor this 

 little bird for his extreme affection for his young; for his contempt 

 of danger, and unexampled intrepidity; for his meekness of beha- 

 viour 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 Avar,'' &c. &c, 



but above all, I honor 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 bee-hives in fifty. 



VOL. II. s 



