AVES TYRANNID^. 809 



Chiloe during the summer season, migrating north in winter. On first 

 seeing this bird I thought it was a finch, fi-om the stoutness of the bill and 

 its brisk manners. It usually has the head feathers erect, which makes the 

 white fleck on the head very conspicuous. It captures insects on the wing 

 in the same manner as the 'Diucon,' and makes the same snapping noise 

 (at least when flying at insects). It does not, however, appear, like the 

 former species, to rely on this method of feeding, but is continually search- 

 ing about leafy branches for what it may find about the leaves. It also 

 eats berries, especially those of the marqui, in the south when in season. 

 It is not so much seen as heard, as it always flits through the leaves and flies 

 out at insects, quickly retreating to its hiding-place. I saw one catch a 

 good-sized butterfly. They sometimes go through more ludicrous antics 

 even than the Diucon, swooping and twisting backwards, and occasionally 

 fluttering through intricate branches as if shot and wounded. 



"The nest is usually placed in a low thick bush or shrub, 2 to 4 feet 

 from the ground. Only two eggs are laid. 



" I never heard these birds make any noise when I got close on the nest. 

 I found one nest in a quila bush. I did not find any nests with young, 

 but observed young birds, which could only have flown a day or two pre- 

 viously, feeding on marqui, and, judging from some fresh droppings, on it 

 exclusively. 



"The song is a somewhat variable ditty, and is more amusing than har- 

 monious, being a series of whistles and squeaking sounds uttered pro- 

 miscuously, though with energy. 



"This bird is held in very bad repute by gardeners on account of its 

 depredations already alluded to." (Ibis, pp. 33-35, 1897.) 



M. J. Nicoll says: "The immature specimen shot at Punta Arenas 

 was met with in the barberry-bushes close to the shore. The adult had a 

 conspicuous white crest. I procured it at Gray's Harbour, Smythe's 

 Channel, in an almost impenetrable thicket. Its note somewhat resembled 

 the pipe of a Bullfinch." (Ibis, Jan. 1904, p. 43.) 



Mr. Peters found it an abundant resident about Lake Nahuel Huapi 

 wherever woods or small groves occurred. The note is a mournful whistle, 

 fe'o. (Bull. M. C. Z. Ixv. p. 325.) 



