Some Colony Birds. 157 



part of the' back, black. The lower wing coverts as also the 

 rectrices are tipped with white. It has the appearance of 

 wearing a cap pushed back from the forehead, and a black 

 cloak slipped over the shoulders. It is known scientifically 

 as the Black-und-White Tyrant Bird {Fluvicola p'ca); but 

 there i^ nothin<, tyr^^nnical about its nature. It is one of those 

 birds which from its habits and environment has accjuired the 

 peculiarities of a bird of another order. It has, in fact, the 

 habits of our Water \\'ag-tail, and even goes so far as to ierk 

 its caudal appendage; but as this is short its efforts to imitate 

 its prototype are more ridiculous than graceful. It is truly 

 fluvicola A river-dweller, but it is not pica, that is, a bird 

 that pecks its food from the bark of a tree." It is never 

 found far away from water, feeding as it does upon the flies 

 and othc: insects that gather about that element. It builds its 

 nest upon some low bush or stunted tree, if it should find 

 one fairly inaccessible to its enemies; failing that, it will not 

 hesitate to build its homestead high. 



I once had a nest of young ones; little animated balls 

 of coiton They were coming on nicely until one night (I 

 was ir the Xorth-West District) they succumbed to the cold. 



The Cotton-bird has neither high bird-intelligence, nor 

 tuneful voice, nor yet splendid plumage to recommend it as 

 d cage-bird. The only note I ha\e heard it utter is a 

 modest tweet- iweet; and this is not very often. 



[Below \vc give English equivalents for the names Uied in this 

 article, covering May and present instalments.— Eu.j 

 Great Rice Bird^Black Cassique. 

 Guiana Blackbird::=Savannah Blackbird. 



Reed Bird or Vellow-head= Yellow-headed Rccd oi Marsh Bird. 

 Savannah Ground Dove^Talpacoti Dove. 

 Speckled Dovc=Passerine Dove. 

 Tiny Ground Dove=Dwarf Ground Dove. 

 Common Thrush=\Vhite-beliicd Thrush. 

 Cotton Bird=Black and White Tyrant. 



{To be continued). 



