THE TYRANT FLYCATCHER -KING-BIRD. 
205 
The Field Martin arrives in Louisiana, from the south, about the middle 
of March. Many individuals remain until the middle of September, but 
the greater number proceed gradually northwards, and are dispersed over 
every portion of the United States. For a few days after its arrival, it 
seems fatigued and doleful, and remains perfectly silent. But no sooner 
has it recovered its naturally lively spirits, than its sharp tremulous cry is 
heard over the fields, and along the skirts of all our woods. It seldom enters 
the forests, but is fond of orchards, large fields of clover, the neighbourhood 
of rivers, and the gardens close to the houses of the planters. In this last 
situation its habits are best observed. 
Its flight has now assumed a different manner. The love-season is at 
hand. The male and female are seen moving about through the air, with 
a continued quivering motion of their wings, at a height of twenty or thirty 
yards above the ground, uttering a continual, tremulous, loud shriek. The 
male follows in the wake of the female, and both seem panting for a suita- 
ble place in which to form their nest. Meanwhile, they watch the motions 
of different insects, deviate a little from the course of their playful rounds, 
and with a sweeping dart secure and swallow the prey in an instant. Proba- 
bly the next sees them perched on the twig of a tree, close together, and 
answering the calls of nature. 
The choice of a place being settled by the happy pair, they procure small 
dry twigs from the ground, and rising to a horizontal branch, arrange them 
as the foundation of their cherished home. Flakes of cotton, wool or tow, 
and other substances of a similar nature, are then placed in thick and regular 
layers, giving great bulk and consistence to the fabric, which is finally lined 
with fibrous roots and horse-hair. The female then deposits her eggs, which 
are from four to six in number, broadly ovate, reddish-white, or blush colour, 
irregularly spotted with brown. No sooner has incubation commenced, than 
the male, full of ardour, evinces the most daring courage, and gallantly drives 
off every intruder. Perched on a twig not far from his beloved mate, in 
order to protect and defend her, he seems to direct every thought and action 
to these objects. His snow-white breast expands with the warmest feelings ; 
the feathers of his head are raised and spread, the bright orange spot laid 
open to the rays of the sun ; he stands firm on his feet, and his vigilant eye 
glances over the wide field of vision around him. Should he espy a Crow, a 
Vulture, a Martin, or an Eagle, in the neighbourhood or at a distance, he 
spreads his wings to the air, and pressing towards the dangerous foe, ap- 
proaches him, and commences his attack with fury. He mounts above the 
enemy, sounds the charge, and repeatedly plunging upon the very back of 
his more powerful antagonist, essays to secure a hold. In this manner, 
harassing his less active foe with continued blows of his bill, he follows him 
Yol. I. 31 
