TYRANNIDJB. 



finally became convinced that the green feathers of the C. azara 

 appear blue in certain lights. This seems strange, as the feathers of 

 the back are not glossed. 



The Many-coloured Tyrant is, apparently, a very feeble flier, rising 

 reluctantly when frightened from the rushes, and fluttering away to a 

 distance of a few yards, when it again drops down. Yet it is strictly 

 migratory. Darwin met with it at Maldonado in the month of June, 

 and therefore concluded that it does not migrate ; but he mentions that 

 it was very rare. I have also occasionally seen one in winter on the 

 pampas, but many migratory species leave a few stragglers behind in the 

 same way. At the end of September they suddenly appear all over 

 the pampas, in every swamp and stream where there are beds of rushes ; 

 for in such situations only is the bird found : and this migration extends 

 far into Patagonia. They are always seen in pairs amongst the dense 

 rushes, where they perch on the smooth stems, not near the summit, 

 but close down to the surface of the water, and perpetually hop from 

 stem to stem, deftly picking up small insects from the surface of the 

 water. They also occasionally leave the rushes and search for insects 

 in the grass and herbage along the border. They are very inquisitive, 

 and if a person approach the rush-bed, they immediately come out of 

 their concealment, both birds uttering their singular notes a silvery, 

 modulated sound, not meant for a song apparently, and yet I do not 

 know any sweeter, purer sound in nature than this. All through the 

 close-growing dark rushes the pretty little melodists may be heard 

 calling to each other in their delicate, gurgling notes. 



The nest is a marvel of skill and beauty. As a rule it is attached to 

 a single polished rush, two or three feet above the water and about the 

 middle of the stem. It is cup-shaped inside, and about four inches 

 long, circular at the top, but compressed at the lower extremity, and 

 ending in a sharp point. It is composed entirely of soft bits of dry 

 yellow rush, cemented together with gum so smoothly that it looks as 

 if made in a mould. The eggs are two in number, oval, and dull 

 creamy white, sometimes with a ring of colour at the large end. 



151. LEPTOPOGON TRISTIS, Scl. et Salv. 

 (SORRY TYRANT.) 



Leptopogon tristis, Scl et Salv. P. Z. S. 1876, p. 254 j White, P. Z. S. 1882, 

 p. 606 (Misiones). 



Description. Above olive; cap rather darker; wings and tail blackish, 

 margined with olive, the two rows of wing-coverts and three or four outer 



