STRANGE-TAILED TYRANT 151 



the earth, and perches on a stalk/' He adds that 

 the males are solitary, but several females are some- 

 times seen near together, and that the females are 

 greatly in excess of the males. 



STRANGE-TAILED TYRANT 



Alectmrus risorius 



Above black, rump grey ; front varied with white ; wings black, 

 scapularies, outer margins of wing-feathers and coverts white ; tail 

 black, two outer rectrices much elongated, denuded at the base, 

 with a broad inner and no outer vane ; below white, broad band 

 across the breast black ; throat in the breeding season bare of feathers 

 and of a bright orange ; bill yellowish ; feet black ; length n inches. 

 Female : above brown, wings varied with white ; beneath white ; 

 breast-band pale brown ; tail with the two outer rectrices slightly 

 elongated and denuded, terminated with spatulations on the inner 

 vane. 



AZARA named this species Cola estraha (Strange-tail) 

 but mentions incidentally that its Guarani name is 

 Guira-yetapd (Scissor-tail), a term which the Indians 

 apply indiscriminately to several species having the 

 same sort of tail. 



The Guira-yetapa is a very curious little bird, with 

 a black, white, and grey plumage and the beak of a 

 true Tyrant ; but it differs from all its congeners in 

 having the skin of the chin, throat, and sides of the 

 head bare of feathers, and these parts in the breeding- 

 season are a bright orange colour. It is a feeble flier, 

 its wings being very short, while the two outer tail- 



