\i)C) DENTIROSTRES. 



this group, and they differ considerably in theii 

 habits and in the localities they frequent ; some are 

 fond of forest lands, perching upon lofty branches, 

 and fluttering from their post in search of passing 

 insects ; while others shun the wooded districts, and 

 are only found upon low-lying ground, where water 

 is plentiful, and where they find their insect food 

 upon the leaves and stems of aquatic plants. Among 

 these — 



The Pied Alectrurus (Aledrurus tricolor) is re- 

 markable. It is a native of tropical South America, 

 and nearly six inches in length, pied with black and 

 white, but with its back ash-colour. It generally 

 inhabits the vicinity of water, flies lightly, and 

 perches upon rushes and other slender stems, but 

 not upon the branches of trees. The male some- 

 times rises perpendicularly to a height of thirty or 

 forty feet by rapid beats of its wings ; and when 

 thus engaged, he looks more like a large black-and- 

 white butterfly than a bird. 



The typical form of this sub-family is — 



The Bliie-heaked Alectrure [Fluvkola cyaMirostris). 



