BELLICOSE TYRANT 189 
is a fiery orange crest, displayed in moments of 
excitement. 
In Buenos Ayres these birds arrive in September, 
after which their shrill, angry cries are incessantly 
heard, while the birds are seen pursuing each other 
through the air or in and out amongst the trees— 
perpetually driven about by the contending passions 
of love, jealousy, and rage. As soon as their domestic 
broils are over, a fresh war against the whole feathered 
race begins, which does not cease until the business 
of propagation is finished. I have frequently spent 
hours watching the male, successively attacking, 
with scarcely an interval of rest, every bird, big or 
little, approaching the sacred tree where its nest was 
placed. Its indignation at the sight of a cowardly 
Carrion-Hawk (Milvago) skulking about in search 
of small birds’ nests, and the boundless fury of its 
onset, were wonderful to witness. 
They are extremely active, and when not engaged 
in their endless aerial battles, are pursuing large 
insects on the wing, usually returning after each 
capture to their stand, from which they keep a jealous 
watch on the movements of all winged things about 
them. They are fond of marshy places and water- 
courses, where they perch on a tall stalk to watch 
for insects, and also frequently skim over the water 
like Swallows to drink and dip their feathers. 
A tall tree is usually selected for the nest, which 
is not infrequently placed on the very topmost 
twigs, exposed to the sight of every creature passing 
overhead, and as if in defiance of birds of prey. With 
