618 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS OF GRENADA. 



The specimen is ia poor coaditioa and I think is a young bird, but 

 probably the adult would not differ materially in plumage. 



Mr. Wells has as yet secured only this specimen ; he writes about it as 

 follows : 



" I send you a very mutilated skin of a small bird which was shot in 

 a cocoa field at St. Andrews ; the ants got at the skin and nearly de- 

 stroyed it. I hope, however, that you will be able to identify it. I once 

 saw one of these birds on a tree overhanging the Grand Btang road, 

 and this is the second I have seen." — G. N. L.] 



24. Tyrannus rostratus (Scl.)- "Pippiree." 



$ Length, 9f inches ; expanse, 15 inches ; wing, 4f inches. 



9 Length, 9f inches ; expanse, 14 inches ; wing, 4f inches. 



On the terminal apex of the palmiste tree, or on some dry or leafless 

 branch of the hog-plum, this bold and dashing bir<l may often be seen, on 

 the lookout for a passing insect, or some hapless hawk or gaulin, whicli 

 latter it seems to delight in tormenting, inflicting quick and sharp 

 strokes with its powerful beak, and utteringafter each stroke its shrill cry 

 '*■ pip-pi-ree^^^ as if in exultation and triumph, whilst its victim flounder.^ 

 about in its endeavors to escape, with loud cries of pain. The hawk, 

 when attacked, shows an inclination first to battle with his foe, by en- 

 deavoring to get above it, but the pippiree is too " wide-awake" for 

 this, and soon compels him to dash down towards the ground or into 

 some tree with thick foliage. The food of this bird is exclusively flie.> 

 and other winged insects, which it takes by darting at them in the air, 

 turning and twisting about with marvellous ease, while the snapping of 

 its strong bill is heard as it closes ov^er its prey ; it also frequents ponds 

 and streams, and may be observed skimming over the surface in the 

 capture of the insects which usually abound in such places. The courage 

 of this bird in defense of its nest is proverbial ; both male and female 

 will dart at any one climbing the tree on which the nest is built, and 

 peck him about the face and hands. I have seen a pair of these birds 

 attack a dog which happened to pass under their nesting tree and make 

 it howl with pain ; pigs also seem to be obnoxious to them when they 

 approach the vicinity of their nests 



The hog-plum tree {iSpondias) is a favoriteresort of this bird for nest- 

 ing : it builds also in the bread-fruit and in the fronds of the palmiste. 

 The nest is rather loosely formed of dry tendrils, and occasionally the 

 midribs of ferns and leaves; there is no soft lining for the eggs, though 

 the shallow cup in the center is usually of finer materials than the 

 foundation of the nest; the eggs are *^hree,of a reddish-buff, haiulsomely 

 marked with spots and blotches of red-brown and dark gray, the spots 

 more or less confiuent at the blunt end; the eggs measure 1.15 by .75 

 inch, 1.10 by .75 inch. 



25. Tyrannus melancholicus Vieill. 



Length, S;^ inches; expanse, 12:^ inches; wing, 4^ inches. 



I .send you by book-j)Q[St a bird which I shot a few days ago. I have 



