BLACK-CROWNED TYRANT 143 



white eggs, with large dark red spots, chiefly at 

 the big end, 



I cannot refrain from quoting a passage from Mr. 

 Barrows' paper, descriptive of the lively temper and 

 habits of this bird : 



" This species often persecutes smaller birds in a 

 way which seems to imply pure love of mischief. 

 One afternoon in July, when the river had fallen 

 some feet after an unusual rise, I was walking along 

 the lines of drift left by the falling water, and watch- 

 ing the different birds which were picking up insects 

 or other food from the wind-rows. A score or two 

 of the little chestnut-backed Centrites were running 

 about, and here and there a Tsenioptera was looking 

 quietly on. Suddenly I heard a chirp of distress, and 

 looking up saw one of these small birds apparently 

 making every effort to escape from a Tcenioptera, 

 which was following in full chase. The two birds 

 were hardly a length apart and both going at full 

 speed, doubling and dodging in a way that would 

 have done credit to a bat. The chase lasted perhaps 

 for half a minute, when the smaller bird alighted, 

 and at once the other also alighted and began running 

 about unconcernedly and picking up food. But the 

 instant the smaller one made a start his enemy was 

 at his heels (or more properly his tail) again, and he 

 was forced to alight. This was repeated so often that 

 I was on the point of shooting the pursuer, when, 

 without any notice, he flew quietly off, and resumed 

 his usual demeanour. It looked like a case of simple 

 spite, for even if there were twenty other birds 



