KINGBIRD 347 KINGPOST KINGBIRD, a name given to a shrike, the Tyrannus intrepidus, of the United States. It is above of a dark slaty ash- color, and beneath white; the feathers of the crown are orange. They build in the United States, breeding in general twice a year, and laying five eggs each time. Named from an erectile orange- colored crest on the head, as also from the tyrannical character of the bird. It is insectivorous, and is not in good repute with beekeepers. KING COLE, a legendary King of Britain, who lived in the 3d century. KING COTTON, a popular personifi- cation of the cotton plant in the United States. KINGCRAB, the English name of the crabs belonging to the genus Limulus. They have their body commencing in front with a broad crescent-shaped cara- pace, with its convexity forward, the whole terminated posteriorly by a long spine-like tail. The kingcrabs are the only representatives of the order and subdivision of Crustacea called Xypho- sura. They are found in the seas and islands of both the Asiatic and American shores of the Pacific Ocean. KINGDOM, the designation of the highest and most comprehensive of the divisions into which natural objects are arranged. They are three in number, the Animal, the Vegetable, and the Min- eral kingdoms. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, or KING- DOM OF GOD. See Heaven. KINGFISH, a beautiful member of the mackerel family. The back and sides are of a rich green, with purple and gold reflections; the under parts yellowish-green, the fins vermilion. Called also the opah. KINGFISHER, the genus Alcedo. The common kingfisher, A. ispida, is blue above, grreener on the mantle and scapu- lars, with beautiful rich cobalt on the back, rump, and upper tail coverts; a spot in front of the eye, the eye coverts and under parts are rufous; the head is blue, barred with black; the wings blue, with spots of brighter cobalt on the coverts; the throat and a patch on each side of the neck are white; the cheeks and sides of the breast are blue; the bill black, the feet red. The female and young are like the male, but are red at the base of the under mandible. Seen on the upper part of the Thames and other rivers in the S. of England perched over the water, into which it darts from time to time, bringing back a fish or a water insect. It bores a hole in the ground, makes a nest of fish bones, and lays six or seven eggs. KING GEORGE'S SOUND, an inlet 5 miles N. and S., and 5 miles broad, at the S. W. angle of western Australia; is an excellent roadstead, and contains two landlocked recesses. Princess Royal and Oyster Harbors. Albany, on Prin- cess Royal Harbor, is a port of call for mail steamers. KING GEORGE'S WAR, a war be- between Great Britain and its American colonies, against France and its Indian allies, so named from King George II. Its principal event was the capture of Louisburg, on Cape Breton Island, the strongest and most important French fortress in America except Quebec. The war began in 1743 and was ended in 1748 by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. KINGLAKE, ALEXANDER WIL- LIAM, an English historian; born in Taunton, Somerset, England, Aug. 5, 1809. Having accompanied the English army to the Crimea in 1854, he wrote his masterpiece, "The Invasion of the Crimea, its Origin and an Account of its Progress" (8 vols., 1863-1887). It is the standard work on the subject, though perhaps it is slightly diffuse, and partial to his friend. Lord Raglan. Be- fore the Crimean War he also wrote "Eothen." He died in London, Jan. 2, 1891. KING OF THE HERRINGS, the popular name of the Chimsera moiistrom, or Arctic chimasra, a fish also known in certain localities by the name of "sea- cat." KING PHILIP'S WAR, a conflict be- tween the New England colonists and the confederated Indian tribes, the Nar- ragansetts, the Wampanoags, and the Nipmucks, carried on in 1675-1676. The Indians were led by Philip, a chief, who was killed at Mount Hope, R. I. Of the 90 towns of the colonists, 12 were utterly destroyed, while more than 40 others suf- fered from fire and pillage. More than 1,000 men were killed and many women and children. The Indians were an- nihilated. KINGPOST, or KINGPIECE, the middle post of a roof, standing in the tie beam and reaching up to the ridge; it is often formed into an octagonal col- umn with capital and base, and small struts or bases, which are slightly curved, spreading from it above the capi- tal to some other timbers. Also known as crown post, or joggle post.
