PIPRID.E. 161 



Flycatcher. It also greedily devours elderberries and other small 

 fruits. 



The nest is not deep, but is much more elaborately constructed than 

 is usual with the Tyrants. Soft materials are preferred, and in many 

 cases the nests are composed almost exclusively of wool. The inside is 

 cup-shaped, with a flat bottom, and is smooth and hard, the thistle- 

 down with which it is lined being cemented with gum. The eggs are 

 four, sharply pointed, light cream-colour, and spotted, chiefly at the 

 large end, with chocolate. In the breeding-time these Tyrants attack 

 other birds approaching the nest with great spirit, and have a particular 

 hatred to the Chimango, pursuing it with the greatest violence through 

 the air with angry notes, resembling in sound the whetting of a scythe, 

 but uttered with great rapidity and emphasis. How greatly this species 

 is imposed upon by the Cow-bird, notwithstanding its pugnacious 

 temper, we have already seen in my account of that bird. 



The Scissor-tails have one remarkable habit ; they are not gregarious, 

 but once every day, just before the sun sets, all the birds living near 

 together rise to the tops of the trees, calling to one another with loud, 

 excited chirps, and then mount upwards like rockets to a great height in 

 the air; then, after whirling about for a few moments, they precipitate 

 themselves downwards with the greatest violence, opening and shutting 

 their tails during their wild zigzag flight, and uttering a succession of 

 sharp, grinding notes. After this curious performance they separate in 

 pairs, and perching on the tree-tops each couple utters together its 

 rattling Castanet notes, after which the company breaks up. 



Fam. XIV. PIPRID^E, OR MANIKINS, 



The brilliantly coloured Piprida or Manikins are nearly altogether 

 confined to the tropical portions of the Neotropical Region, where they 

 number about 70 species. Only one of these has as yet been discovered 

 intruding in the northern outskirts of the Argentine Republic. 



172. CHIBOXIPHIA CAUDATA (Shaw). 

 (LONG-TAILED MANIKIN.) 



Chiroxiphia caudata, Set, et Salv. Nomencl. p. 55; White, P. Z. 8. 1882, p. 608 

 (Misiones). 



VOL. I. M 



