PITANGUS BOLIVIANUS. 149 



note and presently responds with one of equal power. Then, perhaps, 

 for half an hour, at intervals of half a minute, the birds answer each 

 other, though the powerful call of the one must interfere with his 

 hunting. At length he returns; then the two birds, perched close 

 together, with their yellow bosoms almost touching, crests elevated, 

 and beating the branch with their wings, scream their loudest notes in 

 concert a confused jubilant noise that rings through the whole 

 plantation. Their joy at meeting is patent, and their action corre- 

 sponds to the warm embrace of a loving human couple. 



I have frequently stood for the space of half an hour concealed 

 amongst the trees where a Bienteveo was calling to her mate, cheered 

 at intervals by the far-off faint response, for the pleasure of witnessing 

 in the end the joyful reunion of the two birds. 



Except when breeding the Bienteveo is a peaceful bird, never going out 

 of its way to make gratuitous attacks on individuals of its own or of other 

 species ; but in the pursuit of its prey it is cunning, bold, and fierce. 

 Like the true Tyrant-birds it preys a great deal on large insects when 

 they are abundant in the warm season, and is frequently seen catching 

 its prey in the air. A large beetle or grasshopper it invariably beats 

 against a branch before devouring it. But even in summer, when 

 insect prey is most abundant, it prefers a more substantial diet when- 

 ever such is to be had. It frequently carries off the fledglings of the 

 smaller birds from their nests, in the face of the brave defence often 

 made by the parents. It is also fond of fishing, and may be seen 

 perched by the hour on a bank or overhanging branch beside a stream, 

 watching the water like a Kingfisher, and at intervals dashing down to 

 capture the small fry. In shallow pools, where there are tadpoles and 

 other prey, the Bienteveo does not mind getting a little wet, but 

 alights in the water and stands belly-deep watching for its prey. I 

 have seen a Bienteveo standing in the water in the midst of a flock of 

 Glossy Ibises. They are often seen, as Darwin remarks, hovering like 

 a Kestrel over the grass, and then dashing down to seize their prey. 

 Small snakes, frogs, mice, and lizards all minister to its appetite, and 

 with a capture of this kind it invariably flies to the nearest stone or 

 branch, against which it beats the life of its victim out before devouring 

 it. I once saw one fly out of some weeds carrying a little wriggling 

 snake of a very brittle species and about eight inches long in its beak. 

 Alighting on a gate it proceeded to kill its capture, and at the first 

 blow on the wood the snake flew into two pieces. A mouse gives it a 

 great deal of trouble, for after it has been killed it cannot be devoured 

 until reduced by repeated blows to a soft pulp, after which it is with 

 great labour pulled to pieces and eaten. Snails and Ampullarice are 



