THE DEAD TREE'S DAY. 
105 
sound somewhat similar to the rolling rever¬ 
beration of the woodpecker’s drumming can be 
produced. 
At half past six an olive - sided flycatcher 
came to the pine, but on seeing the kingbird dis¬ 
appeared. A moment later the kingbird flew 
away, and the olive-sided at once returned to 
the highest branch of the tree, and made it his 
point of rest during a long series of sallies after 
insects. When he caught one of large size, he 
brought it back to his perch, and pounded it 
violently against the branch until its struggles 
ceased, and its harder portions were, presuma¬ 
bly, reduced to a jelly. The kingbirds really 
have more right than any of the migrants to use 
the old tree, for they have built, year after year, 
time out of mind, in the spreading branches of 
the nearest living pine overhanging the lake. 
As August advances, however, they wander a 
good deal, paying visits to my orchard and other 
good feeding-grounds near the lake. While 
they are away, wood pewees and phoebes, olive¬ 
sided and least flycatchers, visit the vicinity, and 
enjoy the great tree and the fine chances which 
it offers of seeing insects over both land and 
water. About quarter to seven a solitary sand¬ 
piper flew swiftly over the meadow, calling. It 
made two great circles, rising above the trees, 
and then flew westward so fast that I looked to 
