CHOCOLATE TYRANT 137 



vanishes altogether its long wings being as sharply 

 pointed as those of the Peregrine Falcon, while 

 its motions in the air have a Gull-like grace and 

 buoyancy. 



It is a very pretty bird ; the upper plumage is 

 grey tinged with rufous, the throat pure dark grey, 

 breast and belly rufous, wing-coverts light silvery 

 grey, remiges and rectrices dark, Azara classed it 

 under the name of Pepoaza (banded-wing) with 

 the Tdeniopter3 t to which it comes very near in 

 form, flight, language, and habits, though it has 

 longer legs and runs more on the ground. Its summer 

 home is in Southern Patagonia, but its breeding- 

 habits are not known ; in winter it migrates north, 

 and in May is found scattered over the pampas, 

 where it is usually called by the country people 

 Chorlo, a name for all Plovers ; for while running 

 swiftly about on the ground, often associating with 

 flocks of Plover, it has a certain resemblance to 

 them. From the hue of its plumage it is also 

 called El Chocolate, a name I have thought it best 

 to preserve. 



These birds are very sociable, going in small flocks, 

 usually of from half a dozen to twenty individuals ; 

 they are restless and active, and quick and graceful 

 in all their movements, and seek their food on the 

 ground, chiefly coleopterous insects, on the great 

 level plains they inhabit. While on the wing they 

 pursue each other playfully in the air, and also attack 

 and chase passing birds of other kinds, apparently 

 in a sportive spirit. Occasionally they perch on a 



