[1] Max Müller, _Lect. Sci. Lang._, 2nd series, p. 255, "All people,
save those who fancy that the name _king_ has something to do with a
Tartar _khan_ or with a 'canning' ... man, are agreed that the
English _cyning_ and the Sanskrit _ganaka_ both come from the same
root, from that widely spread root whence comes our own cyn or kin
and the Greek [Greek: genos]. The only question is whether there is
any connexion between _cyning_ and _ganaka_ closer than that which is
implied in their both coming from the same original root. That is to
say, are we to suppose that cyning and ganaka are strictly the same
word common to Sanskrit and Teutonic, or is it enough to think that
_cyning_ is an independent formation made after the Teutons had
separated themselves from the common stock? ... The difference
between the two derivations is not very remote, as the _cyn_ is the
ruling idea in any case; but if we make the word immediately cognate
with _ganaka_ we bring in a notion about 'the father of his people'
which has no place if we simply derive _cyning_ from _cyn_." See also
O. Schrader, _Reallexikon der Indogermanischen Altertumskunde_
(Strassburg, 1901) _s.v._ "König": the _chuning_ (King) is but the
_chunni_ (Kin) personified; cf. A.S. _léod_ masc. = "prince"; _léod_
fem. = "race," i.e. Lat. _gens_.
KING-BIRD, the _Lanius tyrannus_ of Linnaeus, and the _Tyrannus
carolinensis_ or _T. pipiri_ of most later writers, a common and
characteristic inhabitant of North America, ranging as high as 57° N.
lat. or farther, and westward to the Rocky Mountains, beyond which it is
found in Oregon, in Washington (State), and in British Columbia, though
apparently not occurring in California. In Canada and the northern
states of the Union it is a summer visitor, wintering in the south, but
also reaching Cuba; and, passing through Central America, it has been
found in Bolivia and eastern Peru. Both the scientific and common names
of this species are taken from the way in which the cock will at times
assume despotic authority over other birds, attacking them furiously as
they fly, and forcing them to divert or altogether desist from their
course. Yet it is love of his mate or his young that prompts this
bellicose behaviour, for it is only in the breeding season that he
indulges in it; but then almost every large bird that approaches his
nest, from an eagle downwards, is assaulted, and those alone that
possess greater command of flight can escape from his repeated charges,
which are accompanied by loud and shrill cries. On these occasions it
may be that the king-bird displays the emblem of his dignity, which is
commonly concealed; for, being otherwise rather plainly
coloured--dark-ashy grey above and white beneath--the erectile feathers
of the crown of the head, on being parted, form as it were a deep
furrow, and reveal their base, which is of a bright golden-orange in
front, deepening into scarlet, and then passing into silvery white. This
species seems to live entirely on insects, which it captures on the
wing; it is in bad repute with bee-keepers,[1] though, according to Dr
E. Coues, it "destroys a thousand noxious insects for every bee it
eats." It builds, often in an exposed situation, a rather large nest,
coarsely constructed outside, but neatly lined with fine roots or
grasses, and lays five or six eggs of a pale salmon colour, beautifully
marked with blotches and spots of purple, brown and orange, generally
disposed in a zone near the larger end.
Nearly akin to the king-bird is the petchary or chicheree, so called
from its loud and petulant cry, _T. dominicensis_, or _T. griseus_, one
of the most characteristic and conspicuous birds of the West Indies, and
the earliest to give notice of the break of day. In habits, except that
it eats a good many berries, it is the very counterpart of its congener,
and is possibly even more jealous of any intruder. At all events its
pugnacity extends to animals from which it could not possibly receive
any harm, and is hardly limited to any season of the year.
[Illustration: King-Bird.]
In several respects both of these birds, with several of their allies,
resemble some of the shrikes; but it must be clearly understood that the
likeness is but of analogy, and that there is no near affinity between
the two families _Laniidae_ and _Tyrannidae_, which belong to wholly
distinct sections of the great Passerine order; and, while the former is
a comparatively homogeneous group, much diversity of form and habits is
found among the latter. Similarly many of the smaller _Tyrannidae_ bear
some analogy to certain _Muscicapidae_, with which they were at one time
confounded (see FLYCATCHER), but the difference between them is deep
seated.[2] Nor is this all, for out of the seventy genera, or
thereabouts, into which the _Tyrannidae_ have been divided,
comprehending perhaps three hundred and fifty species, all of which are
peculiar to the New World, a series of forms can be selected which find
a kind of parallel to a series of forms to be found in the other group
of _Passeres_; and the genus _Tyrannus_, though that from which the
family is named, is by no means a fair representative of it; but it
would be hard to say which genus should be so accounted. The birds of
the genus _Muscisaxicola_ have the habits and almost the appearance of
wheat-ears; the genus _Alectorurus_ calls to mind a water-wagtail;
_Euscarthmus_ may suggest a titmouse, _Elaenia_ perhaps a willow-wren;
but the greatest number of forms have no analogous bird of the Old World
with which they can be compared; and, while the combination of delicate
beauty and peculiar external form possibly attains its utmost in the
long-tailed _Milvulus_, the glory of the family may be said to culminate
in the king of king-birds, _Muscivora regia_. (A. N.)