132 TYKANNID.E, 



Hob. S.E. Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and La Plata. 



This species, found in the open districts throughout South America, 

 from Venezuela to Buenos Ayres, where it is quite common, has very 

 interesting habits. It is seven inches and a half long, has a plump 

 body, short wings, and long legs. The upper plumage is light brown, 

 the throat, breast, and belly yellow, and the male has a concealed crest 

 of a bright orange-red colour. 



It resembles the true Tyrants in disposition, in its shrill piercing 

 language, and in the habit of perching and breeding in trees. On the 

 other hand, like the long-legged Myiotheretes, that lives on the open 

 plains, it feeds exclusively on the ground, over which it runs with a 

 speed possessed by few perching species. The general impression one 

 forms is that in manners and appearance the Short- winged Tyrant is 

 quite unlike any other species, though all its habits are to be found in 

 one or other of the various groups comprising the Tyrannidte. 



These birds have no migration, but pair for life, and always remain 

 on the same spot, and will continue to breed in the same hole for many 

 years, even where they are frequently deprived of their eggs. Azara saw 

 them sometimes uniting in small flocks in Paraguay ; in Buenos Ayres 

 they are always seen in pairs, or, after the young have left the nest, in 

 families. They prefer to live near a human habitation, where there are 

 trees : even one tree, in which they can breed and find shelter at night, 

 will be sufficient to attach them to a dwelling, so great is their partiality 

 for the clean-trodden ground where they can freely run about and catch 

 insects. They haunt the cattle-pens, and become extremely familiar 

 with the cows, horses, and sheep, following them to the pasture-grounds, 

 where they are often seen perched on the back of a horse or other 

 domestic animal, or stationed close to its nose on the ground, watching 

 for insects. On the bare ground they run about with wonderful swift- 

 ness, and are able to overtake and capture flying insects without rising. 

 The male and female invariably hunt together, and at intervals fly to 

 some favourite perch to indulge in a duet composed of loud, rapid, shrill 

 notes, somewhat metallic in sound. Though able to fly swiftly when 

 in pursuit of a passing hawk or other bird, at other times their flight is 

 strangely slow; the round body, short blunt wings and tail giving-' the 

 bird a somewhat curious appearance as it progresses laboriously through 

 the air. I have frequently seen them make the most unprovoked 

 assaults on birds of an inoffensive kind ; possibly they are in these 

 attacks moved by a playful rather than by a vindictive spirit. I once saw 

 one drop like a stone from a height of fifty yards on to a Pigeon 

 perched on a leafless tree. The Pigeon fell as if shot to the earth ; the 

 Tyrant-bird then released his hold ; the Pigeon rushed away terrified 



