THE AMERICAN FLYCATCHERS 



1705 



especially the black and white head stripes, seem to give it a wonderfully knowing 

 look as it turns its head from side to side to examine any intruder. It is a loud- 

 voiced, garrulous bird, and has a great range of sounds, from grating screams to 

 long clear, almost mellow, call notes. It has one pretty habit which brings out 

 strongly the pleasant feature in its character. The male and female are greatly 

 attached; they do not go afield to hunt in company like the short-winged tyrant, 

 but separate to meet again at intervals during the day. One of a couple (say the 

 female) returns to the trees where they are accustomed to meet, and after a time, 

 becoming impatient or anxious at the delay of her consort, utters a very long clear 

 call note. He is perhaps a quarter of a mile away, watching for a frog beside a 

 pool, or beating harrier-like over a thistle bed, but he hears the note and presently 



THE FIRE EYE. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



responds with one of equal power. Then perhaps for half an hour at intervals of 

 half an minute the birds answer each other, though the powerful call of the one 

 must interfere with his hunting. At length he returns; then the two birds perch 

 close together, with their yellow bosoms almost touching, crests elevated, and, beat- 

 ing the branch with their wings, scream their loudest notes in concert, a confused 

 jubilant noise that rings throughout the whole plantation." In its nidification, the 

 bienteveo departs widely from the traditional habits of its congeners; unlike the 

 majority of tyrants, which build small and shallow nests, this species constructs a 

 very elaborate domed nest, which sometimes takes weeks to elaborate. It is placed 

 in a tree without any attempt at concealment, and is composed of a variety of soft 

 materials, especially wool. The eggs are cream colored, spotted with checolate and 



