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STRANGE-TAILED TYRANT 151 
the earth, and perches on a stalk.” He adds that 
the males are solitary, but several females are some- 
times seen near together, and that the females are 
greatly in excess of the males. 
STRANGE-TAILED TYRANT 
Alectrurus risorius 
Above black, rump grey; front varied with white ; wings black, 
scapularies, outer margins of wing-feathers and coverts white ; tail 
black, two outer rectrices much elongated, denuded at the base, 
with a broad inner and no outer vane; below white, broad band 
across the breast black; throat in the breeding season bare of feathers 
and of a bright orange ; bill yellowish ; feet black ; length 11 inches. 
Female: above brown, wings varied with white; beneath white ; 
breast-band pale brown; tail with the two outer rectrices slightly 
elongated and denuded, terminated with spatulations on the inner 
vane. 
Azara named this species Cola estrana (Strange-tail) 
but mentions incidentally that its Guarani name is 
Guira-yetapa (Scissor-tail), a term which the Indians 
apply indiscriminately to several species having the 
same sort of tail. 
The Guira-yetapa is a very curious little bird, with 
a black, white, and grey plumage and the beak of a 
true Tyrant ; but it differs from all its congeners in 
having the skin of the chin, throat, and sides of the 
head bare of feathers, and these parts in the breeding- 
season are a bright orange colour. It is a feeble flier, 
its wings being very short, while the two outer tail- 
