j 
Concord, 
1393. 
j 
July G. 
Aug . 27 . 
Tyr annus tyr annus . 
Mass. Overtakes a Robin in fair flight. 
Once in 1390 and again in Connecticut last month I saw 
a Kingbird pursue and overtake a Chimney Swift. Less remark- 
able but yet well worth noting was the pursuit of a Robin by 
a Kingbird this evening. I was paddling in towards our land- 
ing when the Robin came dashing through the big white willow 
and made for the further side of the river. The Kingbird was 
at least twenty feet in the rear at first but although the 
Robin did his best he was overtaken before he reached the 
middle of the stream and suffered a severe pummel ing before 
he could gain the trees on the further bank. The Kingbird in 
fact dealt him a dozen or more blows on the back of the head, 
the poor Robin squealing the while as if he were in the 
clutches of a Hawk. Whether or no the Robin had done anything 
to merit this chastisement I had no means of ascertaining. 
It is evident that the Kingbird can, upon occasion, fly more 
swiftly than any other of our small land birds. 
At about 9.30, before the morning fog had cleared and 
the sun come out, I saw six Kingbirds crossing the Great Mead- 
ows flying 100 ft. or more above the earth and due south in a 
loose flock. They kept steadily on flapping their wings with 
perfect regularity and passing over the line of trees which 
fringe the river. I was satisfied at the time that they were 
migrating. 
