SBCTION VI. — NATURAL KXEMIES OF THE IKOtniOPPKIt. 



75 



One of these was shot at La Fortunee Estate on 11th July 191S and 

 'Contained one froghopper and two siuall I'cd and green t'luits. 



I have no other certain record of it in the cane fields. According to 

 Leotaud it is fairly common. 



(13.) Tyrannus melancholicus. Grey-headed Keskadee. 



This is one of the commonest birds in the sugar districts and is 

 frecjuently seen seated on the telegraph posts or wires along the road or on 

 the topmost branch of some small bush. It differs from its town relative 

 the Common Keskadee in the grey instead of black head, in the absence 

 of the white streak over the ej-e, and in its quieter habits. It does not 

 utter the loud "Keskadee" of its relative. 



One shot at Caroni on '28th September 1917, contained the I'emains 



■ of a number of dung beetles (ScarabcBidce}, two weevils, a Chrysonielid 



beetle, one moth and one butterfly. Another shot at Caroni on yOth 



October 1917 contained several small beetles, including one Scarabaeid 



and one weevil, and four adult froghoppers. 



This bird is one of the chief enemies of the Large Moth-borer 

 [Castnia licus) in the cane fields and on one occasion one was seen to 

 • catch and eat a dragon fly. 



It nests in bushes and trees usually over ten feet from the ground, 

 but occasionally less. It has been seen nesting in May, .Tune and July. 



{U.j Milcn- 



■ liisti/rainiiis. 

 Scissors -tail 

 Fly - catcher, 

 or Swallow- 

 t a i 1 F 1 y - 

 catcher (Fig 

 If).) 



Diu'ingthe 

 wet season 

 this is one of 

 the most 

 abundant 

 birds in the 

 cane fields 

 and is with- 

 out doubtthe 

 most impor- 

 tant bird 



■ eneiMy of the 

 froghop[)ei'. 



In colour 

 it is black 

 and wliite 

 with a slight 

 yellow crest 

 in the male, 

 . and the long 

 outer tail 

 f e a t h ers of 

 -this sex make 

 it a con- 



s p 1 c n o u s 

 object. 



Fig. 15. 



Fig. 15 -The Scis.sors-tail Fly-Catcher {Milrulus tin-annus^. Aljout half nat.n-dl size. 



