830 Sir W. Jardine on the Ornithology of the Island of Tobago. 



have often been delighted to see a number of them ranged along 

 like so many sportsmen on one of our roofs, watching with eager 

 eye for every straggling insect or fly which the calmness of the 

 evening had induced out, and to see twenty of them darting off 

 in different directions with their combined twitter, some twenty, 

 some twelve yards, and returning again to the same place. I 

 could observe nothing they were catching, yet they never miss 

 their aim, as I could distinctly see from the circumstance of two 

 adults as regularly as they returned putting before alighting 

 whatever they brought into the mouth of a young one which 

 awaited their return with open mouth, although to all appearance 

 as big as the parent. I have often been surprised to see with 

 what ease this tribe can tarn the head right behind them, as if 

 acting upon some double swivel. Without moving the body 

 the eye goes all round the compass, in the same moment as it 

 were, and without any preparatory symptom it leaps upon its 

 prey, giving the shrill twitter just before rising." 



Tyrannus crinitus, Linn. (Yellow-belly.) n. 



" This bird differs entirely in his manners from the Arkansaw 

 flycatcher, although a good deal like it in appearance ; feeds on 

 insects and larvse ; has none of the twitter belonging or peculiar 

 to the flycatcher tribe. If it catches its prey on the wing it must 

 be done about the roots of the trees, and not in the bold style of 

 the tyrant flycatcher." The Tobago specimens are all rather less 

 than the dimensions given by Wilson, or those of a North Ame- 

 rican specimen before us, being from 7 T 5 <y to 7 t 8 q in length. A 

 specimen marked $ has little rufous on the wings, and entirely 

 wants all trace of that colour on the inner webs of the tail- 

 feathers. We have not received this species from Jamaica, the 

 bird mentioned by Mr. Gosse under the name being apparently 

 referable to one sent to us from that island of a larger size, and 

 having much more rufous on the wings and tail. 



Tyrannus audax, Gmel. (Shrike or Butcher-bird.) s. 



" Native : very noisy on the approach of any person, and keeps 

 up a continual chatter like the European magpie : feeds on in- 

 sects, seeds and berries." We receive this species also from 

 Trinidad. 



Tyrannula trailii, Aud. ? n. 



" Feeds about the roots of trees and lives on insects." 



Tyrannula oleaginea, Lichten. ? (Green-bird.) s. 

 " Native ; little known \ feeds upon insects and grass seeds or 

 blossoms, and frequents the roots of trees in the woods." 



