FAMILY X. 
CANORI, ItaiGEK. 
GENUS XVI. — JV/C'SC/C^i’/l, Linnjsos. 
74. MUSCICAPA TYBANNVS, BKISSON, WILSON, AND LINN.ffiO*' 
TYRANT FLYCATCHER, OR KING BIRD. 
WILSON, PLATE XIII. FIG. I. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MDSEUX' 
This is the field martin of Maryland and some of 
southern States, and the king bird of Pennsylvania 
several of the northern districts. The epithet 
which is generally applied to him by naturalists, I 
not altogether so well satisfied with ; some, howe^*' 
may think the two terms pretty nearly synonymou*. 
The trivial name king as well as tyrant has h*; 
bestowed on this bird for its extraordinary behaviof 
and the authority it assumes over all others, during 
time of breeding. At that season his extreme aflFect’lJ 
for his mate, and for his nest and young, makes hi 
suspicious of every bird that happens to pass near * 
residence, so that he attacks, n ithont discriminat'® 
every intruder. In the months of May, June, K 
part of July, his life is one continued scene of h>^ 
and battles; in which, hoivevcr, he generally coiy 
off conqueror. Haw'ks and crows, the bald eagle, 
thegreat black eagle, all equally dread a rencounter f 
this dauntless little champion, who, as soon as he 
ceives one of these last approaching, lanches into ,( 
air to meet him, mounts to a considerable height 
him, and darts down on his bai-k, sometimes 6-^ i 
there to the great annoyance of his sovereign, 
no convenient retreat or resting jilace be near, ei'", 
vours by various evolutions to rid himself of his 
less adversary. But the king bird is not so 
