Hab. S. Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.

In both sexes in this species the plumage is deep olivaceous brown, the breast pure yellow. It is active, strong on the wing, sociable and noisy; and being moreover a pretty and elegant bird, very common in settled districts, and with a preference for man’s neighbourhood, it is familiar to every one, and has won amongst many competitors the vernacular name of Pecho-amarillo (Yellow-breast), for with us yellow-breasted species are somewhat numerous. It remains all the year, invariably going about in flocks of from twenty to thirty birds, and feeds on the ground in the fields or on the open plain. While they are feeding, one bird takes up a position on a stalk or thistle-top to keep guard; when he flies down another bird takes his place; if a person approaches, the sentinel gives the alarm, and all the birds fly off in a very close flock, making the air resound with their loud ringing notes. After feeding, they repair to the trees, where they join their robust voices in a spirited concert, without any set form of melody such as other song-birds possess, but all together, flinging out their notes at random, as if mad with joy. In this delightful hubbub there are some soft silvery sounds. Where they are never persecuted they have little fear of man, but they invariably greet his approach with a loud vigorous remonstrance.

In October the birds break up their companies to pair. Sometimes they breed on the open plain in a large cardoon thistle, but a thick bush or low tree is preferred. The nest is like that of a Thrush, being deep, compactly made of dry grass and slender sticks, plastered inside with mud, and lined with hair or soft dry grass. It is, however, deeper and more symmetrical than the Thrush’s nest, and it is sometimes plastered with cow-dung instead of with mud. The eggs are four, very long, white, and abundantly spotted with deep red, the spots becoming confluent at the large end.

The Yellow-breast is never seen to quarrel with its fellows or with other birds, and it is possibly due to its peaceful disposition that it is more victimized by the parasitical Molothrus than any other bird. I have frequently found their nests full of parasitical eggs, as many as fourteen and in one case sixteen, eggs in one nest. In some seasons all the nests I found and watched were eventually abandoned by the birds on account of the number of parasitical eggs dropped in them. I have also so frequently found parasitical eggs on the ground under the nest that I believe the Yellow-breast throws out some of these foreign eggs, and in one instance I was quite sure that this had happened. The nest was in a cardoon bush, and contained five eggs—two of the Yellow-breast and three parasitical. These three were of the variety most thickly mottled with red, and consequently closely resembling the eggs of the Yellow-breast. I was surprised to find five more eggs of the Cow-bird on the ground, close together, and about three feet from the bush; and these five eggs were all pure white and unspotted. Naturally I asked, How came these eggs in such a position? They had not fallen from the nest, which was very deep, contained few eggs, and was scarcely thirty inches above the ground. Then they were all white, while those in the nest were mottled. That the eggs had been laid in the nest I felt certain; and the only way I can account for their being in the place where I found them is that the Yellow-breast itself removed them, taking them up in its bill and flying with them to the ground. If I am right, we must believe that this individual Yellow-breast had developed an instinct unusual in the species, which enables it to distinguish, and cast out of its nest, eggs very different from its own—an instinct, in fact, the object of which would be to counteract the parasitical habit of Molothrus. What would be the effect of such an instinct should the species acquire it? Doubtless it would be highly prejudicial to the parasitical birds laying white eggs, but favourable to those laying mottled eggs. This would be natural selection operating in a very unusual manner; for the Yellow-breast, or other species, would improve another to its own detriment, since the more the parasitical eggs assimilated to its own, the greater would be the likelihood of their being preserved. The perfect similarity of the eggs of M. rufoaxillaris to those of M. badius perhaps was brought about in this way. But, it may be added, if besides the Yellow-breast some one other species laying very different eggs (a Zonotrichia or Tyrannus, for instance) should also acquire this distinguishing habit, and eject all eggs unlike its own from its nest, the habit in the two or more species would ultimately cause the extinction of the parasite.

It might throw some light on this obscure subject to examine, for several successive summers, a large number of nests, to ascertain whether the nests of the Yellow-breast are often found without any white unspotted eggs, or if the same proportional number of white (parasitical) eggs are found in the nests of the Yellow-breast, Scissor-tail, Song-Sparrow, Pipit, and other species.

103. TRUPIALIS MILITARIS (Linn.).

(PATAGONIAN MARSH-STARLING.)

Hab. Chili, Patagonia, and Falkland Islands.

Two species of Trupialis inhabit the southernmost part of the Argentine Republic, the present being confined to Patagonia and South Chili, while its northern representative inhabits the pampas of Buenos Ayres and Uruguay. Probably the Colorado River, which separates two districts differing in soil and vegetation, is the boundary-line dividing their habitats. So nearly alike are these two birds in colour, language, and habits, that they seem rather like races than species; and they were so regarded by naturalists until recently, when the pampas bird was raised to the rank of a distinct species, with the name of Trupialis defilippii. Unfortunately the old name militaris fits the Pampas, and not the Patagonian, Starling best; but of this I shall speak when I describe the former species.

In form and size T. militaris resembles the Common Starling of Europe, but differs from it in habits, flight, language, and in colouring; its upper plumage being fuscous mottled with yellowish grey, the throat and bosom scarlet inclining to crimson. This hue varies greatly, the breast-feathers being often tipped with white, which subdues the intense red, and gives it a rosy tint in some individuals. The female is paler-plumaged than the male, and has less red on the breast.

It inhabits the whole of Patagonia to the Strait of Magellan, but is confined to the valleys or to the neighbourhood of water; and Durnford remarks that it is a useful bird to the traveller in that thirsty country, as its presence is a sure indication of water. It is resident, and is seen in small parties of four or five, or in small flocks seldom exceeding twenty or thirty in number. It feeds and lives on the ground, and only occasionally is it seen to perch on a low bush. Its flight is strong, and it flies about a great deal, and usually utters its song when on the wing. The song is continued all the year, and is heard even on the coldest days in winter; the notes are few and not highly melodious, but are cheerful and vigorous.

The nest is made of dry grass and rootlets attached to the rushes in moist ground, and placed close to or resting on the surface. The eggs are five, the ground-colour white spotted or blotched with reddish brown.

104. TRUPIALIS DEFILIPPII, Bp.

(DE FILIPPI’S MARSH-STARLING.)

Hab. Northern Argentina and Uruguay.

Throughout the country where this species abounds it is called Pecho colorado, which is certainly better than Azara’s barbarous, if picturesque, name of Degollado; but no happier name than militaris could have been invented for it, by which it was formerly known to naturalists; and though it was given to the bird merely on account of the red breast, and was therefore equally applicable to all the red-breasted species on the globe, in this case it accidentally seemed to describe a peculiar habit of the bird, as well as its bright livery.

In size, form, gait, flight, language, and colour the present bird very closely resembles the Patagonian Starling; but the crimson on the breast is brighter and the upper parts are darker. Its nesting-habits are also like those of the southern bird; the number and colour of the eggs being the same in both species. One trivial difference in habit is that De Filippi’s Starling occasionally soars up a few yards into the air when uttering its song. It inhabits the moist grassy pampas in the southern part of the Buenos Ayrean province, and is there abundant and unites in large flocks. At the approach of the cold season there is a general movement northwards of the birds, which does not, however, extend far, as the birds, although strong fliers, travel slowly and in a peculiar manner; it is in this season, when the birds are seen moving in large flocks, that the name of Military Starling strikes one as being peculiarly appropriate. They do not journey through the air like other migrants, but move over the ground, when the flock, composed of four or five hundred to a thousand or more individuals, is extended so as to present a very long front, and at intervals the hindmost birds fly over the others and alight just in advance of them: the long front, the precision of their movements, and their scarlet bosoms all turned one way, suggest the idea of a disciplined army on its march.

They never perch on trees, but frequently alight on the roof of a rancho or other elevation affording a secure footing. They are tame birds and fly reluctantly; when approached, they usually crouch down, hiding their crimson bosoms, and remain motionless in order to escape observation. In disposition they are peaceful, and so fond of society that when one becomes separated from his fellows he will unite with birds of another kind, even with Plovers or Tyrant-birds.

On the great monotonous plains, where most of the small birds are grey- or brown-plumaged, and in winter when there are no flowers to satisfy the desire of the eye for bright colour, it is delightful, while travelling, to meet with an army of these Starlings: their crimson bosoms, less bright than the hues of some tropical species, seem then to glow with a strange splendour on the sombre green of earth, and the sight produces an exhilarating effect on the mind.

105. ICTERUS PYRRHOPTERUS, Vieill.

(CHESTNUT-SHOULDERED HANG-NEST.)

Hab. S. Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina.

This interesting bird, the only Icterus found in the Argentine Republic, ranges south to Buenos Ayres, where it is migratory, and appears in small flocks of six or eight individuals in September; but soon after arriving these little companies break up, and the birds are subsequently found singly or in pairs in the woods along the Plata River.

The sexes are alike in colour, but the male is considerably larger; the whole plumage is an intense black, excepting a rufous spot on the shoulder, seen only when the bird is on the wing; the bill is black and curved, the body slender, and the tail long. It is a loquacious bird, most of its tones being low and pleasing; exceedingly restless in disposition, incessantly passing from tree to tree, jerking its long tail and clinging to the branches in various attitudes, while searching for insects in the decayed bark. While thus engaged it utters a great variety of chirping and guttural sounds, interspersed with short agreeable notes. It also has a song of considerable merit, low and varied in tone, with a peculiar ventriloquism in many of the notes which produce a confusing idea on the listener that the bird approaches and recedes alternately whilst uttering them. While singing the bird continues moving, but always concealed in the thick foliage, and it is probably this constant turning about of the singer, and the notes coming through leafy screens of varying density, which makes the ventriloquism and gives so much light and shade to its mysterious melody.

The first bird of this species I shot was wounded very slightly in one wing and fell into a stream; to my very great surprise it began singing its usual song while floating about on the surface, making no attempt to swim. After fishing it out it continued to sing at intervals in my hand: how strange it was to hear this bleeding captive bird warbling out soft, sweet notes which seemed to express only pleasant emotions! Yet it was evident that the bird was fully alive to its danger, for it struggled violently to escape and bit my finger savagely with its sharp beak.

I subsequently found a nest; it was about seven inches deep, composed entirely of lichens gathered from the boles of trees, ingeniously woven together and suspended from the small twigs and leaves at the extremity of a branch. There were no eggs in it, but the birds fluttered in great trouble about me, and, what greatly surprised me, uttered a variety of singing notes, unlike their usual song, but many of them closely resembling the notes of other songsters, which made me think that this Icterus possesses the mimicking faculty to some extent. This, however, is a question it would be difficult to decide. It seems certain, however, that this species is incapable of expressing any distressing feeling, such as pain, fear, or parental anxiety, with loud harsh notes like other birds. It is much to be regretted that Azara, who found this species common in Paraguay, did not pay more attention to its habits and language, which make it specially interesting even in a family so rich in strange habits as the Icteridæ.

106. APHOBUS CHOPI (Vieill.).

(CHOPI BOAT-TAIL.)

Hab. S. Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.

The Chopi, which is said to be quite common in Paraguay, is only found in the north-eastern part of the Argentine Republic, consequently I have never seen it, except as a cage-bird; nor is there anything about it in the notes of recent collectors and travellers who have visited the upper waters of the Plata. This is, however, not to be regretted, since Azara gave a very full and spirited account of this species in his ‘Apuntamientos;’ although it certainly does seem strange that the Chopi should have had two careful observers of its habits fully a century ago, namely, Azara and his friend and fellow-naturalist the priest Noseda, and not one since. Evidently Azara was very familiar with this bird, for he describes it lovingly and at great length, his history of it being one of the most charming things in his work. According to him the Chopi is a highly sagacious bird, and although a frequent visitor to courtyards and verandahs of houses in Paraguay, too shy and suspicious to be caught with snares. It has a strong and easy flight, and readily attacks any large bird passing near, following it persistently in the air, or, pouncing down, fastens itself on its enemy’s back. If the Caracara Eagle (Polyborus) alights in order to shake off its persecutor, the Chopi perches at a distance of a few feet, where it assumes an indifferent manner; but no sooner does the Caracara allow its attention to wander from its adversary, then it is again subjected to fresh insult. These attacks on so large and powerful a species may be regarded as mere impertinences, but by practising them the Chopi is soon able to rid himself of the presence of any unwelcome bird. From a long distance he recognizes an enemy, by its figure, or even its shadow, and warns all birds of the coming danger with a loud whistle, which at once sends them into hiding, while the Chopi goes bravely out to the encounter; and the result is invariably a victorious song on his part, beginning with the sound of his own name, and running through a variety of whistled notes. He also sings well in captivity and when his mate is incubating; and his voice is first heard welcoming the dawn from the eaves and tiled roofs of houses where he roosts. The pairing-season is in November; and, Noseda adds, the breeding-place is a hole in a bank, or tree-trunks, or in a wall under the eaves, and occasionally the nest is made in the small branches of an orange or other close-leafed tree, and is built of sticks and straws carelessly disposed, with a few feathers for lining. The eggs are four, and white.

It may be added that between Azara and his friend Noseda there was a great controversy respecting the parasitical habits of the common Cow-bird (Molothrus), which were first discovered by the former; and disbelieved in by Noseda, who accounted for the fact that the Cow-bird is never seen to make a nest by supposing that species to be the year-old young of the Chopi, which, he further imagined, took three years to acquire the adult form and plumage. Such an idea might seem to discredit Noseda as a naturalist, if we did not remember that Gilbert White at the same period was trying to prove the hybernation of Swallows in England. The whole of the discussion appears in the ‘Apuntamientos,’ under the description of the Chopi; and Noseda is there allowed to state his own case; after which the better observer, Azara, gives five objections to the theory, any one of which would be sufficient to demolish it.

Fam. XII. CORVIDÆ, or CROWS.

The typical black Crows and Ravens do not penetrate into the New World so far south as South America, their range terminating in the highlands of Guatemala and the islands of the Greater Antilles. They have, however, as representatives in South America several allied groups, clad mostly in various shades of blue, and commonly known as Blue Crows and Blue Jays. Two of these are known to occur in the woods of the northern provinces of Argentina.

107. CYANOCORAX CHRYSOPS (Vieill.).

(URRACA JAY.)

Hab. Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Northern Argentina.

“This Blue Jay is very common about the woods at Campo Colorado (Salta). It is remarkably tame and inquisitive, and has a great variety of peculiar grating metallic notes. On the sierras of Totoral I likewise met with it; and it is found as far south as Tucuman and Catamarca.” (White.) According to Azara it is abundant in Paraguay and familiar with man, coming a great deal about the houses. The vernacular name there is Acahé.

108. CYANOCORAX CÆRULEUS (Vieill.).

(AZURE JAY.)

Hab. S. Brazil, Paraguay, and N. Argentina.

This fine species was originally discovered by Azara in Paraguay. In June 1881 specimens were obtained at San Javier, Misiones, by White. He writes: “This bird is found here at times in flocks, and makes a great deal of noise, but is exceedingly wild and difficult to shoot, so that I had to use ball-cartridge to secure this specimen.”

Suborder II. OLIGOMYODÆ.

Fam. XIII. TYRANNIDÆ, or TYRANTS.

The Tyrannidæ or Tyrant-birds, which play the part of our Flycatchers in the New World, although they are quite different in structure, contribute an important element in the Neotropical Avifauna, numbering as they do more than 350 species. Of these 63 have already been met with within the limits of the Argentine Republic, and the list, will, no doubt, be further extended, as many of these birds are small and dull in colour, and easily hide themselves in the dense forests to which they resort.

The pampas are the special home of the Tæniopterinæ, or “Walking Tyrants” as Swainson called them, which have strong feet and long tarsi, and frequent open spaces. Amongst them the genera Tænioptera, Alectrurus, Cnipolegus, and Lichenops may be regarded as specially characteristic of the Argentine avifauna. On the other hand, the Elaineinæ and Platyrhynchinæ, which are eminently birds of the dense forest, are much less numerous within the bounds of Argentina, and are mostly confined to the wooded districts of the north. The typical Tyranninæ form a more mixed group, some species of which, such as Tyrannus melancholicus and Pyrocephalus rubineus, are prominent objects in the Argentine ornis.

109. AGRIORNIS STRIATA, Gould.

(STRIPED TYRANT.)

Hab. Eastern Argentina and Patagonia.

This species, originally discovered by Darwin in Patagonia, is also found in Eastern Argentina. White obtained it in Catamarca, Durnford in Tucuman, and Burmeister on the Rio Quarto, in Cordova.

110. AGRIORNIS MARITIMA (d’Orb. et Lafr.).

(WHITE-TAILED TYRANT.)

Hab. Argentina, Patagonia, Chili, and Bolivia.

This Agriornis was obtained by Durnford at Tombo Point in Central Patagonia, by Burmeister in the Sierra de Uspallata, near Mendoza, and by Barrows in the rocky gorges of the Sierra de la Ventana.

Darwin tells us of this species that it “is a scarce, shy, solitary bird, frequenting the valleys in which thickets grow, but often feeding on the ground. In the interior plains of Patagonia, on the banks of the Santa Cruz, I several times saw it chasing beetles on the wing, in a peculiar manner, half hopping and half flying; when thus employed it spreads its tail, and the white feathers in it are displayed in a very conspicuous manner. I also met with the species in the lofty and arid valleys on the eastern side of the Cordillera of Central Chili, and likewise at Copiapo.” (Zool. Voy. ‘Beagle,’ iii. p. 57.)

111. MYIOTHERETES RUFIVENTRIS (Vieill.).

(CHOCOLATE TYRANT.)

Hab. Patagonia, Argentina, and Paraguay.

There is a striking resemblance to a Thrush in this species, when one sees it running on the ground with its beak somewhat elevated; but when it stands or perches, opening and closing its broad tail with a graceful fan-like motion, the resemblance to the stiff automatic Turdus grows less, and when it flies vanishes altogether—its long wings being as sharply pointed as those of the Peregrine Falcon, while its motions in the air have a Gull-like grace and buoyancy.

It is a very pretty bird; the upper plumage is grey tinged with rufous, the throat pure dark grey, breast and belly rufous, wing-coverts light silvery grey, remiges and rectrices dark. Azara classed it under the name of Pepoaza (banded-wing) with the Tæniopteræ, to which it comes very near in form, flight, language, and habits, though it has longer legs and runs more on the ground. Its summer home is in Southern Patagonia, but its breeding-habits are not known; in winter it migrates north, and in May is found scattered over the pampas, where it is usually called by the country people ‘Chorlo,’ a name for all Plovers; for while running swiftly about on the ground, often associating with flocks of Plover, it has a certain resemblance to them. From the hue of its plumage it is also called ‘El Chocolate,’ a name I have thought it best to preserve.

These birds are very sociable, going in small flocks, usually of from half a dozen to twenty individuals; they are restless and active, and quick and graceful in all their movements, and seek their food on the ground, chiefly coleopterous insects, on the great level plains they inhabit. While on the wing they pursue each other playfully in the air, and also attack and chase passing birds of other kinds, apparently in a sportive spirit. Occasionally they perch on a thistle-top or low bush, but never on trees. Their only language is a long, low, plaintive whistle, heard usually on warm still days in winter.

112. TÆNIOPTERA NENGETA (Linn.).

(PEPOAZA TYRANT.)

Hab. S.E. Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentine Republic, and Bolivia.

To this species Azara gives the name of Pepoazá, the Guarani for Barred-wing; and Pepoaza was used by him as a generic name for the small, well-defined group now placed in the genus Tænioptera, comprising eight known species. Most of these birds have some conspicuous wing-mark. They inhabit the southern portion of the South-American continent, from South Brazil and Bolivia to the Straits of Magellan, and are most numerous on the open pampas and in Patagonia. In size they do not vary greatly, the largest being about nine inches long, the smallest about seven. In colour they are grey, or, more frequently, white relieved with black or grey, one species (T. rubetra) being rufous. Their legs are long, and they run on the ground like Myiotheretes rufiventris, feeding, to some extent, in the same manner; but they also occasionally pursue and capture insects on the wing, like the typical Tyrant-birds that seldom or never alight on the ground. They have likewise another and unique preying-habit, intermediate between the Plover-like habits of Agriornis, Myiotheretes, and Muscisaxicola, and the Swallow- or Flycatcher-like habits of the true Tyrants. The bird perches itself on an elevation—the summit of a stalk, or bush, or even of a low tree—to watch like a Flycatcher for its insect prey; only instead of looking about for passing insects, it gazes intently down at the ground, just as a Kingfisher does at the water, and when it spies a beetle or grasshopper, darts down upon it, not, however, to snatch it up with the bill as other Tyrants do, but it first grasps it with its feet, then proceeds to despatch it, swaying about and opening its wings to keep its own balance, just as an Owl is seen to do when it grasps a mouse or other small animal in its claws. After devouring the insect on the spot, it flies back to its perch to resume the watch. They are very restless, active, playful birds, and seldom remain long on one spot, apparently finding it irksome to do so; but I have seen the T. irupero occupy the same perch for hours every day while looking out for insects.

As an English generic name for this small interesting group might be useful, I would suggest Ground-gazers or Ground-watchers, which describes the peculiar preying-habit of these birds.

The Pepoazá is a swift, active, graceful bird, with a strong, straight beak, hooked at the point, and a broad tail four inches long, the total length of the bird being nine inches. The throat and space between the beak and eye are white; all the rest of the body, also the wing- and tail-coverts, light grey; tail and wing-quills black, with a pure white band across the base of the primaries. The tertiaries and rectrices are tipped with pale rufous grey.

It inhabits Brazil south of the equator, Bolivia and Paraguay, also the northern provinces of the Argentine Republic. Mr. Barrows gives the following account of its lively habits in Entrerios:—“They are commonly seen perched on fences or the tops of bushes or trees in open ground, frequently making sallies for winged insects, or dropping to the ground to catch a grasshopper or worm. When shot at while perched and watching you, they almost invariably leave the perch at the flash, pitching forward and downward, and usually evading the shot, even at short range. Several times I have secured them by shooting about a foot below and two feet in front of them as they sat, but they do not always fly in this direction. The rapidity of their flight when frightened, or when quarrelling, is simply astonishing. I have seen one chase another for three or four minutes, doubling, turning, twisting, and shooting, now brushing the grass, and now rising to a height of at least two or three hundred feet, and all the movements so rapid that the eye could scarcely follow them; and at the end of it each would go back to the top of his own chosen weed-stalk, apparently without a feather ruffled.”

Azara found this species breeding in a hole in a bank; and Mr. Dalgleish has described a nest, taken from a tree in Uruguay, as a somewhat slight structure, four inches in diameter, formed of sticks and fibres, lined with fine grass and a few feathers. It contained three eggs, pear-shaped, white, with large well-defined spots of reddish brown.

113. TÆNIOPTERA CORONATA (Vieill.).

(BLACK-CROWNED TYRANT.)

Hab. Argentine Republic, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

In this species the sexes are alike. The crown is black and composed of loose feathers; the forehead, and a broad line over the eye which extends nearly round the head, also all the under plumage, pure white; neck and back clear grey; quills black.

This Tyrant is a solitary bird, though often many individuals are found within call of each other, and they sometimes even unite in a loose flock. It is found throughout the Argentine country, ranging south to the Rio Negro, in Patagonia, but abounds most on the Buenos-Ayrean pampas, where it performs a partial migration. Most of the Tæniopteræ seek their food by preference on the bare level ground, or where the vegetation is most scanty. This species varies somewhat in habits, and seldom runs on the ground, and chiefly inhabits the desert plains, where the large grasses flourish. On one occasion when I was with an expedition on the pampas for several weeks, every day a number of these birds would gather and follow us; perched here and there on the tall grasses with their bosoms toward us, they often looked at a distance like large white flowers. Old gauchos have told me that fifty years ago they were abundant all over the pampas, but have disappeared wherever the giant grasses have been eaten down, and have given place to a different vegetation.

Their note is a long, low whistle, the usual language of the Tæniopteræ; but in this species it is very like a human whistle, on account of which the bird is named Boyero (ox-driver) on the pampas. One severe winter great numbers of them appeared in the neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres, and it was amusing to see the dogs thrown into a great state of excitement by the low whistling notes heard perpetually from all sides. Every few moments they would start up and stare about them to ascertain where the deceptive call came from, and in spite of many disappointments they would occasionally all rush away, loudly barking, into the plantation, convinced that some person there was whistling to call them.

The Black-Crown makes a somewhat shallow nest in a bush or large clump of grass, and lays four white eggs, with large dark red spots, chiefly at the big end.

I cannot refrain from quoting a passage from Mr. Barrows’s paper, descriptive of the lively temper and habits of this bird:—

“This species frequently persecutes smaller birds in a way which seems to imply pure love of mischief. One afternoon in July, when the river had fallen some feet after an unusual rise, I was walking along the lines of drift left by the falling water, and watching the different birds which were picking up insects or other food from the wind-rows. A score or two of the little chestnut-backed Centrites were running about, and here and there a Tænioptera was looking quietly on. Suddenly I heard a chirp of distress, and looking up saw one of these small birds apparently making every effort to escape from a Tænioptera, which was following in full chase. The two birds were hardly a length apart and both going at full speed, doubling and dodging in a way that would have done credit to a bat. The chase lasted perhaps for half a minute, when the smaller bird alighted, and at once the other also alighted and began running about unconcernedly and picking up food. But the instant the smaller one made a start his enemy was at his heels (or more properly his tail) again, and he was forced to alight. This was repeated so often that I was on the point of shooting the pursuer, when, without any notice, he flew quietly off, and resumed his usual demeanour. It looked like a case of simple spite, for even if there were twenty other birds about, one seemed to be followed without regard to the rest.”

I have often watched Tæniopteræ of different species, also Myiotheretes rufiventris behaving in a similar way, and agree with Mr. Barrows that it is “an amusement in which the larger bird indulges simply for the pleasure derived from the exercise of his power.”

114. TÆNIOPTERA DOMINICANA (Vieill.).

(DOMINICAN TYRANT.)

Hab. S.E. Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentine Republic.

This bird ranges from South Brazil and Paraguay to the southernmost pampas of Buenos Ayres. Its total length is eight inches. The wings and tail are black, the former barred with white; all the rest of the plumage in the male is pure white; in the female the upper parts are grey.

It is to some extent migratory, and usually goes in flocks of a dozen or twenty birds, and frequents open situations where there are bushes and trees, also plains covered with giant grasses. They are more social in their habits than T. coronata, but in other respects closely resemble it, and are exceedingly active lively birds, and when the flock is on the wing continually pursue each other in a playful manner.

Mr. Barrows observed them in autumn on the Pigué (southern pampas) preparing for their migration. “Late in March,” he says, “we found them in large scattered flocks, which collected in one place toward evening, and went through a series of aerial evolutions accompanied with vocal exercises of a varied and entertaining kind, lasting half an hour or more.

“I presume this was in preparation for their northward (or westward?) migration, as we did not see them again after leaving this spot.”

115. TÆNIOPTERA IRUPERO (Vieill.).

(WIDOW TYRANT.)

Hab. Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentine Republic, and Bolivia.

This pretty species is found throughout the Argentine country, and is well known to the natives, and usually called Viudita (Little Widow), on account of its mourning colours. It is also sometimes curiously named Anjelito de las Animas, from a superstitious notion due to the intense whiteness of its plumage and to its supposed habit of frequenting graveyards. In both sexes the entire plumage is snowy white, except the primaries and the tip of the tail, which are black. In habits it is more sedentary than other Tæniopteræ, and obtains its food chiefly by patiently watching the surface of the ground for its insect prey. Its marvellously white plumage, and the habit of sitting motionless on the summit of a bush or tree, make it a most conspicuous object, so that it is strange to find such a bird existing in districts which abound in raptorial species; for Hawks, I have frequently noticed, will always single out a white or conspicuously coloured bird for pursuit, and though the Little Widow, like the other members of its genus, is swift and strong of wing, the feeble and the young must often fall victims to their shining white plumage.

The Little Widow is a solitary bird, and not nearly so lively and playful in manner as T. coronata and T. dominicana, its surpassing whiteness being its most interesting feature. Its nesting-habits are unlike those of other Tæniopteræ, for it breeds only in holes, usually in the bole or branch of a tree; but sometimes it takes possession of the oven of Furnarius rufus to lay in. The nest is composed chiefly of feathers and contains four eggs, creamy white, with a few very minute red spots, irregularly distributed. Mr. Dalgleish says, “Some eggs have only two or three spots, none have more than eight or ten.”

Mr. Barrows says:—“The adults have several of the primaries remarkably attenuated. Young birds appear to acquire these attenuate primaries only after a complete moult. But I took one specimen which showed one or more primaries with tips of ordinary shape but with a line apparently worn into the vane of the inner web, so as to mark out distinctly the attenuate tip, and it seemed as if a little more wearing would cut out a piece which would leave the primary as in the old bird.”

116. TÆNIOPTERA MURINA (d’Orb. et Lafr.).

(MOUSE-BROWN TYRANT.)