114 TYRANNIES. 



112. TJENIOPTERA NENGETA (Linn.). 

 (PEPOAZA TYRANT.) 



Taenioptera nengeta, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 459 (Parana) ; Scl. et Salv. 

 Nomencl p. 42; Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl. viii. p. 137 (Entrerios) ; 

 White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 603 (Misiones). 



Desertion. Above cinereous ; lores white ; wings black, coverts cinereous ; a 

 well-marked speculum at the base of the primaries and the edgings of the outer 

 secondaries white; tail black, tipped with whitish cinereous, basal one-third of tail 

 white : below pale cinereous, middle of throat white, with blackish stripe on each 

 side ; middle of belly, flanks, crissum, and under tail-coverts white ; bill horn- 

 colour ; feet black : whole length 9'0 inches, wing 5-0, tail 3*5. Female similar. 



Hab. S.E. Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentine Republic, and 

 Bolivia. 



To this species Azara gives the name of Pepoazd, the Guarani for 

 Barred- wing ; and Pepoaza was used by him as a generic name for the 

 small, well-defined group now placed in the genus Tcenioptera, compris- 

 ing eight known species. Most of these birds have some conspicuous 

 wing-mark. They inhabit the southern portion of the South- American 

 continent, from South Brazil and Bolivia to the Straits of Magellan, 

 and are most numerous on the open pampas and in Patagonia. In 

 size they do not vary greatly, the largest being about nine inches long, 

 the smallest about seven. In colour they are grey, or, more frequently, 

 white relieved with black or grey, one species (T. rubetra) being 

 rufous. Their legs are long, and they run on the ground like Myio- 

 theretes rufiventris, feeding, to some extent, in the same manner ; but they 

 also occasionally pursue and capture insects on the wing, like the typical 

 Tyrant-birds that seldom or never alight on the ground. They have 

 likewise another and unique prey ing-habit, intermediate between the 

 Plover-like habits of Agriornis, Myiotheretes, and Muscisaxicola, and the 

 Swallow- or Flycatcher-like habits of the true Tyrants. The bird perches 

 itself on an elevation the summit of a stalk, or bush, or even of a low 

 tree to watch like a Flycatcher for its insect prey ; only instead of 

 looking about for passing insects, it gazes intently down at the ground, 

 just as a Kingfisher does at the water, and when it spies a beetle or 

 grasshopper, darts down upon it, not, however, to snatch it up with the 

 bill as other Tyrants do, but it first grasps it with its feet, then proceeds 

 to despatch it, swaying about and opening its wings to keep its own 

 balance, just as an Owl is seen to do when it grasps a mouse or other 

 small animal in its claws. After devouring the insect on the spot, it flies 

 back to its perch to resume the watch. They are very restless, active, 

 playful birds, and seldom remain long on one spot, apparently finding 



