92 



SCISSAR-TAIL, OR SWALLOW BLACK-CAP, 



Gubernetes forficattis, SWAINS, 

 PLATE V. 



Cinereous ; wings and tail brown ; chin and throat white, 

 bordered by a chestnut collar ; primary quills fulvous- yel- 

 low at their base. 



L'Yiperu, Azara ed Sonnini, iii. p. 196 Gubernetes Cun- 



ninghamii, Vigors, Zool. Journal, ii. PI. 4, (fig. med.) 



AZARA was the first to record this remarkable bird, 

 but, by a singular infelicity of arrangement, he has 

 placed it among the Icterince^ or hang-nests, with 

 which it has obviously no connexion. This is the 

 more unaccountable, as the account he gives of its 

 manners are perfectly in unison with those of his 

 Pepoazas, or water-chats, in which we include this 

 and the last genus. Like these birds, it frequents, 

 in small troops, the neighbourhood of swamps and 

 rivers, sometimes perched upon the reeds and rushes, 

 but more generally frequenting the ground in search 

 of worms and other insects. During its flight it has 

 the habit of expanding and opening its very long and 

 forked tail, upon which account the natives of Para- 



