t about four
o'clock in the afternoon, there was an unusual stir about the kingbird
castle. I saw that something had happened, and this must open a new
chapter. But before beginning the chronicle of the kingbird babies, I
should like to give my testimony about _one_ member of the family. As a
courteous and tender spouse, as a devoted father and a brave defender of
his household, I know no one who outranks him. In attending to his own
business and never meddling with others, he is unexcelled. In regard to
his fighting, he has driven many away from his tree, as do all birds,
but he never sought a quarrel; and the only cases of anything like a
personal encounter were with the two birds who insisted on annoying him.
He is chivalrous to young birds not his own, as will appear in the story
of his family. He is, indeed, usually silent, perhaps even solemn, but
he may well be so; he has an important duty to perform in the world, and
one that should bring him thanks and protection instead of scorn and a
bad name. It is to reduce the number of man's worst enemies, the vast
army of insects. What we owe to the fly-catchers, indeed, we can never
guess, although, if we go on destroying them, we may have our eyes
opened most thoroughly. Even if the most serious charge against the
kingbird is true, that he eats bees, it were better that every bee on
the face of the earth should perish than that his efficient work among
other insects should be stopped.

II.

A CHRONICLE OF THREE LITTLE KINGS.

There was

"Riot of roses and babel of birds,
All the world in a whirl of delight,"

when the three baby kingbirds opened their eyes to the June sunlight.
Three weeks I had watched, if I had not assisted at, the rocking of
their cradle, followed day by day the patient brooding, and carefully
noted the manners and customs of the owners thereof. At last my long
vigil was rewarded. It was near the end of a lovely June day, when June
days were nearly over, that there appeared a gentle excitement in the
kingbird family. The faithful sitter arose, with a peculiar cry that
brought her mate at once to her side, and both looked eagerly together
into the nest that held their hopes. Once or twice the little dame
leaned over and made some arrangements within, and then suddenly she
slipped back into her place, and her spouse flew away. But something had
happened, it was plain to see; for from that moment she did not sit so
closely, her mate