Mr. J. F. Hamilton un Brazilian Birds. 305 



generally to be found perched upon the top of a low bush, from 

 which they pounce down upon any insect they may see on the 

 ground. I found them very troublesome when trying to shoot 

 birds that frequented marshy ground, as some were generally 

 perched upon a low bush at the edge of the marsh, and on my 

 approach they set up their loud cry, which had the effect of 

 frightening away all birds that were in the neighbourhood. 

 When passing from one bush to another they fly in a very un- 

 dulating manner. Their cry very much resembles the words 

 bem-te-vi (I see you well), by which name they are known to 

 the Brazilians. 



24. Chiroxiphia caudata (Shaw). 



Tolerably common and well distributed over the country. I 

 saw it both near Itapetininga, and in the woods of the Serra 

 south of Sao Paulo. The natives call them Fandango birds, and 

 say that they are in the habit of performing a dance: one perches 

 upon a branch, and the others arrange themselves in a circle 

 round it, dancing up and down on their perches to the music 

 sung by the centre one. A female I preserved has the same 

 plumage as the young male — red on the head, with the back 

 greenish blue. Von Pelzelu (Oru. Bras. p. 129, note) remarks 

 the same of* an old female collected by Natterer m the same 

 neighbourhood as mine, two months later in the year. 



25. Chiromach^ris gutturosa (Desm.). 



The first intimation given of the presence of one of these birds 

 is a sharp whirring sound very like that of a child^s small 

 wooden rattle, followed by two or three sharp snaps ; the bird 

 itself may then be seen creeping among the branches, stretching 

 out its neck to seize some insect, and ever and anon darting off 

 in pursuit of some passing fly. They do not, however, return to 

 the same post like Flycatchers, but after a successful pursuit, 

 perch upon the nearest branch and resume their search over the 

 tree. They are generally to be found on trees of thick growth, 

 as they do not seem ever to take long flights. 



26. Ilicura militaris (Shaw). 



This bird is rather rarer than the last, and has very much the 

 same habits. I found both forming a part of the large flocks 



