128 



FLYCATCHERS. 



branches, and fluttering from their post in search of passing in- 

 sects; 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 leaves and stems of aquatic plants. 

 Among these — 



The Pied Alectrurus {Ahctrm-ns tricolor) is remarkable. It is a native 

 of tropical South America, and nearly six inches in length, pied with black and 



The Blue-beaked Alectrure {Fluvicola cyaiiirostris). 



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 sometimes rises perpendicularly to a height 

 of thirty or forty feet by rapid beats of his wings ; and when thus engaged, he 

 looks more like a large black and white butterfly than a bird. 



Thespeciescomposing another group (7Vp;//<7/'/r;'.7), distinguished 

 by their long and pointed wings, are usually seen perched silently 

 on the tops of small bushes, tall shrubs, or on the low branches 

 of trees, from whence they watch the approach of an insect, upon 

 which they dart, and, having captured it, return to their perch. 

 Sometimes they may be observed hunting upon the ground for 

 insect food, more especially for beetles, and probably for small 

 seeds. Their nest is coarsely constructed in the middle of a 

 bush. 



