The Tyrant Flycatcher.- 
-BIRDS.- 
-The Crested Tyrant. 
3b5 
of green or olive tints in their plumage. Like the pre- 
ceding it is a summer visitor to the United States, 
whilst its winter is passed in warmer latitudes ; it is a 
well-known bird in Jamaica, where it is called, “ Whip 
Tom Kelly,” from a fancied resemblance in its song to 
those words. Wilson says that by listening attentively 
for some time to the note of this bird, it requires little 
Imagination to fancy that it pronounces the words— 
“ Tom Kelly, Whip Tom Kelly,” very distinctly, but 
Mr. Gosse dissents from the general opinion, and says 
that the notes resemble the syllables, “ John-to-whit,” 
the last syllable pronounced with emjihasis. 
The Red-eyed Flycatcher is a little larger than the 
preceding species ; its general colour above is yellowish- 
olive, beneath white ; a white line runs from the nostril 
over the eye, which has a red iris. I'he nest of this 
species is likewise conical in form, and paper is one of 
its constant materials. Both these species are fre- 
quently selected by the Cow-bird, as foster parents to 
its offspring. 
THE YELLOW-BREASTED FLYCATCHER {Icteria 
viridis), another nearly allied American species, is 
larger than either of the preceding, measuring seven 
inches in length. Its plumage is of a fine olive-green 
colour above, and white beneath, with the throat and 
breast of a brilliant yellow. During the period of 
incubation, the male of this bird behaves in a most 
extraordinary manner, uttering loud cries and ascend- 
ing and descending in the air with a singular dancing 
motion. He exhibits the greatest jealousy of any 
intruders on the thicket which he has selected for his 
residence, scolding any passenger,” says Wilson, “ as 
soon as they come within view, in a great variety of 
odd and uncouth monosyllables.” The nest, for the 
protection of which all these exertions are made, is 
usually placed in a bramble bush in the midst of some ■ 
impregnable thicket, and composed externally of dry 
leaves, within which is a layer of strips of vine bai’k, 
and an inner lining of fibrous roots and fine grass. 
THE TYRANT FLYCATCHER [Tyrannus intrepidus), 
which is also called the King-bird, is an' example of 
another American group of Flycatchers. In these birds 
the bill is larger and stronger than in the ordinary 
Flycatchers, indicating an approach to the Shrikes. 
The Tyrant Flycatcher is about eight inches in 
length, the plumage of the upper parts is slaty ash- 
colour, with the head and tail black, the feathers on 
the former being capable of elevation, so as to form a 
sort of crest, when a subjacent bed of a brilliant orange 
colour is displayed, which is commonly called the 
crown of the King-bird. The lower surface is white. 
The names of King and Tyrant bestowed upon this 
bird, refer to the extraordinary authority which he 
arrogates to himself during the breeding season, over 
all the rest of the feathered creation. At this period, 
as described by Wilson, “ his extreme affection for his 
mate, and for his nest and young, makes him suspi- 
cious of every bird that happens to pass near his 
residence, so that he attacks witliout discrimination 
any intruder. In the months of May, June, and part 
of July, his life js one continued scene of broils and 
battles; in which, however, he generally comes off 
conqueror. Hawks and crows, the bald eagle, and 
the great black eagle, all equally dread a rencountei 
with this dauntless little champion, who, as soon as 
he perceives one of these last approaching, launches 
into the air to meet him, mounts to a considerable 
height above him, and darts down on his back, some- 
times fixing there to the great annoyance of his sove- 
reign, who, if no convenient retreat or resting-place be 
near, endeavours by various evolutions to rid himself 
of his merciless adversary. But the King-bird is not so 
easily dismounted. He teases the eagle incessantly, 
sweeps upon him from right and left, remounts, that 
he may descend on his back with the greater violence ; 
all the while keeping up a shrill and rapid twittering, 
and continuing the attack sometimes for more than a 
mile, till he is relieved by some other of his tribe, 
equally eager for the contest.” The only bird which 
appears to get the better of the King-bird in these 
encounters is the Purple Martin, whose determineil 
enmity to all birds of prey is somewhat like his own. 
The power of wing possessed by the martin is so great, 
that the King- bird has little chance of touching him, 
and occasionally the attacked party becomes the 
attacker, when the King-bird is compelled to seek 
safety in an ignominious flight, before the rapid and 
easy swoops of his assailant. Wilson says that he has 
also seen the King-bird greatly irritated by his vain 
efforts to dislodge the Redheaded Woodpecker, the 
latter dodging him round a rail, and appearing highly 
amused at the impotent rage of his assailant. This 
quarrelsome demeanour is laid down by the King-bird 
at the close of the breeding season, and he then be- 
comes a peaceable denizen of the wood or the orchard. 
This bird arrives in the United States from his winter 
quarters about the month of April, generally in small 
parties of five or six. The nest is built on the branch 
of a tree, and composed of small twigs and dried 
flowers, interwoven with tow and wool, and made 
very compact. The lining consists of fine grass and 
horsehair. The eggs, which are usually five in num- 
ber, are cream-coloured, with a few large purple spots 
and small pale brown ones, principally at the larger end. 
The only song of this bird is a shrill twitter. His 
food consists principally of insects, which he captures, 
sometimes by flying steadily over the fields, and dash- 
ing down upon them as they pass below him, and 
sometimes in the manner of the ordinary Flycatchers, 
by taking his position on the summit of a post or tall 
weed, and sweeping off after them as they pass. 
Under the latter circumstances, he is observed to 
exercise a certain amount of discrimination in select- 
ing his prey, often allowing two or three insects to fly 
by him, before he makes his dash. This has been 
repeatedly noticed in the case of bees, a species of 
food to which he is partial, and his fondness for which 
often leads to his destruction by the owners of the 
hives ; when he takes up his position to watch a bee- 
hive, he is seen evidently to select certain individuals 
from the crowd of passers in and out. 
THE CRESTED TYRANT {Tyrannua crinitus) is a 
little larger than the preceding species, which it re- 
sembles in its general habits, but does not attack 
birds of prey in the same way. This bird builds its 
nest in the hole of a tree, constructing it of hay, fea- 
