016 Von Ihering, Biology of the Tyranuidce. Ljidv 



care to hide their nests. Everyone would suppose that these 

 birds should prefer to build their nests under cover of the grass 

 and form simple structures of dried grass, as do the species of 

 Sycalis, Ammodromus, Embernagra, Emberizoides and other 

 Fringillidae of the campos. Except, however, in the genus 

 Alectrurus, I do not know any other example among the Tyranni- 

 dse of this form of nesting. In general these birds are not very 

 careful to hide their nests. On the contrary the large species of 

 Tyrannina, and the species of the allied genera Myiozetetes and 

 Pitangus, seem to prefer to place their nests on isolated trees, as 

 much exposed as possible. This custom corresponds well with 

 the bold characters of these birds. 



Taking a general view of the eggs of Tyrannidae, we find a uni- 

 formity in coloration which is in strong contrast to the variety of 

 forms of their nests. The eggs in this family, as a rule, are white 

 or cream-white with reddish brown spots at the larger end. These 

 spots are small and pointed in the Euscarthminae, while they are 

 obsolete in the buff eggs of the Serphophaginae. The occurrence 

 of pure white eggs is limited to the genera Copnrus, Ariuidinicola, 

 and a few others. In the genus Mi(scivo?'a the ground color is 

 somewhat dark brownish. The eggs of the genus Myiarchus are 

 remarkable for the elongated form of the numerous red-brown 

 spots. 



If we compare the color of the eggs with the mode of con- 

 struction of the nests no pronounced correlation is. to be found. 

 Uniformly white or cream-colored eggs exist in the genera Copnrus 

 and Anindinicola^ which are deposited in covered nests, while the 

 similar eggs of the Serphophagina; are laid in open nests. The 

 eggs of the Euscarthminae, though deposited in closed nests are 

 adorned with numerous red spots, while those of Myiozetetes and 

 Fitangus, which are laid in closed and domed-shaped nests, have 

 the same large, reddish brown spots as those of the genera Tyran- 

 nus, Milvulus, and others, the nests of which are wholly open. 

 Similar cases prevail in the eggs of other South American birds. 

 In this respect the example of the American Gallinae is instructive, 

 for while as regards the careless construction of the nest no differ- 

 ence is noticeable, the eggs of the Brazilian representatives of 

 the Gallinae are white, while those of the Crypturi are distin- 



