The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-07-07

ing spirals Of mist, silvery and opal
escent, through which the dim seen
figure of duck in a straight flight |
shot like a missile.
AS the kingbird sat erect ON his |
branch, watching with bright eyes the
venturous dragonfly arose from a |
weed top below him and flew into the
rosy light. The bird darted straight
and true. zigzagged sharply as the
victim tried to dodge, caught the
lean prize in his beak, and carried it
to his mate upon the nest. Then he
fluttered back to his post upon the
branch.
AS the sun got up over the hill, and
it's warmth dried their wings, the in
tervana began to hum softly and the
kingbird was continually on the
move, twittering with soft monotone
his sole attempt at song-between
each successful sally. At length the
female rose from her eggs, stood on
the edge of the nest, and gave an i'm
patient call. Her matte flew down to
take her place, and the two perched
side by side, making low, chirping
sound in their threats.
Just at this moment blacksnake,
warmed into activity and hunger by
The first rays of the sun, glided to the
THE and began to climb. Bird nest
ing was the blacksnake's favorite en-
ployment. but it had not stopped to
consider that the nest in this particu-
lar tree was a kingbird's. It climbed
swiftly and noiselessly, and the pre-
occupied birds did not get glimpse
of it until it was within two feet of
the nest.
There vas no time for consultation
in the face of this peril. Like light
ming the two darted down upon the
enemy, bufleting it's head with swift
wing strokes. The first assault all
but swept it from the tree, and it
shrank back upon itself with flatten-
ed head and angry hiss. Then it
, struck fiercely again and again at its
bewildering assailants. But swift as
, were it's movements, those Of the
kingbirds We're swifter, and it's fangs
+ never bit upon so much as a feather
Suddenly, in it's fury, it struck out
too far weakening for moment Its
!, hold upon THE crevices of the bark
= and in that moment, both birds strik
y ing together, it's squirming folds were
!. hurled to the ground. Thoroughly
: cowed, it slipped under cover and
made off, only wavering lime among
the grasses betraying its path. The
: king birds, with excited and defian
y twittering followed for little it's hid
: den retreat and then returned elatet
Il to the nest.
Among the kindred of the wild, a.
- well as among those of roof ant
>, hearth, events are apt to go in com
pany. For day after day things will
r revolve in set fashion. Then chanc'
takes sudden interest in particula
- spot or certain individual, and Their
% for a time is established a cente
= for events. This day for the black
:. snake was an eventful day for tn
II little kings of the intervale. The
" had hardly more than recovered tror
h their excitement over the snake whe
~ red squirrel, his banner OF a tai
r.. Haunting superbly behind him, cam
o. bounding over the grass to their tres
m His intentions may have been strict
"a innocent But a red squirrels intel
~ tons are liable to change in the fac
70 of opportunity. AS he ran up tn
NJ tree and paused curiously at tn
IN nestled crotch feathered thunde
y. bolt struck him on the side of tn
~ head. It knocked him clear out {
II the tree and he turned a comple1
~. somersault in the air Before he coul
os get his balance and spread his leg
:, $40 as to alight properly. When
"a reached the ground he fled in di
~, NAV, and was soon heard chatterir
NJ vindictively among the branches Of
ss far off poplar.
no It was a little before noon whe
nv came the great event OF this eventf
ha day. The male kingbird was on tt
oh edge Of the nest, feeding a fat mo-
od to his mate. AS he Strengthened I
,st and glanced around he saw lart
or marsh-hawk winnowing low aero
Oh the river AS it reached the shore
III. swooped into the reed fringe. b
rose again without a capture. For
nm few minutes it quartered the or
cb grass near the bank, hunting +
av mice The two kingbirds watched
ne with anxious, angry eyes. Sudden
to it sailed straight toward the tree, al
ur. the kingbirds shot into the air. rea'
So for battle.
els It was not the precious nest. no
he ever nor the owners OF the nest,
al which THE fierce eyes of the mars
ch hawk had fallen When he was wit
lid in twenty PAGES Of the nest he drc
to ped into the grass. There was
lch moment of thrashing wings, then
ZEN rose again and beat back toward t
river with a young muskrat in