THE KING BIRD. 49

for his mate and for his young, makes
him suspicious of every bird that happens
to pass near his nest, so that he attacks
without discrimination. In the months
of May, June, and part of July, his life
is one continued scene of broils and bat-
tles, in which he generally comes off con-
queror. Hawks and crows, the bald-eagle
and the black-eagle, all equally dread an
encounter with this little champion, who,
as he perceives the last approaching,
launches into the air to meet him. He
builds on trees, at no great distance from
the ground; the eggs are five or six,
reddish-white, spotted.