THE TYRANT FLYCATCHER.— KING-BIRD. 
207 
large rivers and lakes, sailing and dashing about in pursuit of insects. Again, 
gliding down towards the water, he drinks in the manner of various species 
of Swallow. When the weather is very warm, he plunges repeatedly into 
the water, alights after each plunge on the low branch of a tree close by, 
shakes off the water and plumes himself, when, perceiving some individuals 
of his tribe passing high over head, he ascends to overtake them, and bidding 
adieu to the country, proceeds towards a warmer region. 
The King-bird leaves the Middle States earlier than most other species. 
While migi'ating southwards, at the approach of winter, it flies with a strong 
and continued motion, flapping its wings six or seven times pretty rapidly, 
and sailing for a few yards without any undulations, at every cessation of the 
flappings. On the first days of September, I have several times observed 
.them passing in this manner, in detached parties of twenty or thirty, per- 
fectly silent, and so resembling the Turdus migratorius in their mode of 
flight, as to induce the looker-on to suppose them of that species, until he 
recognises them by their inferior size. Their flight is continued through the 
night, and by the 1st of October none are to be found in the Middle States. 
The young acquire the full colouring of their plumage before they leave us 
for the south. 
The flesh of this bird is delicate and savoury. Many are shot along the 
Mississippi, not because these birds eat bees, but because the French of 
Louisiana are fond of bee-eaters. I have seen some of these birds that had 
the shafts of the tail-feathers reaching a quarter of an inch beyond the end of 
the webs. 
This bold Flycatcher is not satisfied with ranging throughout the United 
States, but extends its migrations across the continent to the Columbia river, 
and, according to Dr. Richardson, northward as far as the 57th parallel, 
where it breeds, arriving in May, and departing in the beginning of Septem- 
ber. I have found it breeding in the Texas on the one hand, in Labrador 
on the other, and in all intervening districts, excepting the Florida Keys, 
where it is represented by the Pipiry Flycatcher. I have never seen it dive 
after fish, or even after aquatic insects, although, as I have already mention- 
ed, it throws itself into the water for the purpose of bathing ; nor have 
remains of fishes been found in its stomach or gullet. Like all Flycatchers, 
it disgorges the harder parts of insects. 
How wonderful is it that this bird should be found breeding over so vast 
an extent of country, and yet retire southward of the Texas, to spend a very 
short part of the winter! Some, however, remain then in the southern por- 
tions of the Floridas. The eggs measure rather more than an inch in length, 
and six and a half eighths in breadth ; they are broadly rounded at the larger 
did, the other being suddenly brought to a sharpish conical point. 
