PEPOAZA TYRANT 139 



manner ; but they also occasionally pursue and 

 capture insects on the wing, like the typical Tyrant- 

 birds that seldom or never alight on the ground. 

 They have likewise another and a unique preying 

 habit, intermediate between the Plover-like habits 

 of Agriornis, Myiotheretes, and Muscisaxicola, and 

 the Swallow- or Flycatcher-like habits of the true 

 Tyrants. The bird perches itself on an elevation 

 the summit of a stalk or bush, or even of a low tree 

 to watch like a Flycatcher for its insect prey ; only 

 instead of looking about for passing insects, it gazes 

 intently down at the ground, just as a Kingfisher 

 does at the water, and when it spies a beetle or grass- 

 hopper darts down upon it, not, however, to snatch 

 it up with the bill as other Tyrants do, but it first 

 grasps it with its feet, then proceeds to despatch it, 

 swaying about and opening its wings to keep its own 

 balance, just as an Owl is seen to do when it grasps 

 a mouse or other small animal in its claws. After 

 devouring the insect on the spot, it flies back to its 

 perch to resume its watch. They are very restless, 

 active, playful birds, and seldom remain long on one 

 spot, apparently finding it irksome to do so ; but 

 I have seen the 7\ irupero occupy the same perch 

 for hours every day while looking out for insects. 



As an English generic name for this small inter- 

 esting group might be useful, I would suggest 

 Ground-gazers or Ground-watchers , which describes 

 the peculiar preying habit of these birds. 



The Pepoaza is a swift, active, graceful bird, with 

 a strong straight beak, hooked at the point, and a 



