126 TYRANNID^E. 



126. CNIPOLEGUS ANTHRACINUS, Heine. 

 (ASHY-BLACK TYRANT.) 



Cnipolegus anthracinus, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 43 ; Salv. Ibis, 1880, p. 356 

 (Salta) ; Doring, Exp. al Rio Negro, Zool p. 24 (Patagonia). Cnipolegus 

 atenimus, White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 604 (Misiones). Cnipolegus hudsoni, 

 White, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 39 (Cordova) ? Myiarchus fasciatus, Leybold, 

 J.f. O. 1865, p. 402 (Mendoza), $ . 



Description. Above dull black, a broad bar across the vanes of the inner 

 webs of the wing-feathers white ; bill plumbeous ; feet black : whole length 6-3 

 inches, wing 3'5, tail 3-0. Female ashy brown ; rump, upper tail-coverts, and 

 basal portions of tail bright rufous ; wings blackish, with two white transverse 

 stripes ; beneath pale fulvous, white on the belly ; bill and feet black. 



Hob. Northern Argentina. 



Unfortunately very little is yet known about the habits of these 

 interesting little Tyrant-birds, for which I should like to suggest the 

 common name l ' Spectacular/' for reasons I shall say more about when I 

 come to describe the Lichenops perspicillatus, a species which undoubt- 

 edly belongs to this peculiar well-defined group. The plumage of the 

 male is, in most cases, intensely black, and there is a pure white bar 

 on the remiges, hidden when the bird is perched, and when it flies 

 made doubly conspicuous by the peculiar motion of the wings. In all 

 the known species the female has a dull brown plumage, lined or 

 mottled with dusky tints, and with some portion of the wing-quills 

 marked with rufous or chestnut colour. 



The Ashy-black Tyrant inhabits the Mendoza district, and is also a 

 summer visitor in Patagonia, where it was obtained by Dr. Doring. 

 Speaking of its habits, he says the male is solitary, perches on the 

 summit of a bush or dry twig, emits at intervals a song or call com- 

 posed of two syllables, plaintive and flute-like in character, and uttered 

 while the bird rises up a few feet into the air. During this perform- 

 ance the white bands on the wings are displayed conspicuously and a 

 humming sound is produced. 



127. CNIPOLEGUS HUDSONI, Scl. 



(HUDSON'S BLACK TYRANT.) 

 Cnipolegus hudsoni, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1872, p. 541, pi. xxxi. (Rio Negro). 



Description. Uniform dull black ; a broad bar across the bases of the inner 

 webs of the wing-feathers white ; two outer primaries much pointed at their 

 extremities ; bill plumbeous, feet black : whole length 6-0 inches, wing 2-8, 

 tail 2-6. 



