i 7 2 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



LITTLE TIT-LIKE GREY TYRANT 



Anxretes parulus 



Above cinereous, with an olivaceous tint on the lower back ; head 

 black, front varied with white, elongated vertical crest black, some- 

 times varied with white ; wings blackish, with slight whitish tips to 

 the coverts and whitish margins to the outer secondaries ; tail blackish, 

 outer webs of external rectrices whitish ; below pale straw-colour, 

 white on the throat; throat and breast with numerous and well- 

 marked black striations ; bill and feet black ; length 4 inches. 



THIS small bird is only four and a half inches long ; 

 in both sexes the colour on the upper parts is dull 

 grey, on the throat and breast ash-coloured ; the 

 belly pale yellow. It has the distinction of a slender 

 curling Lapwing-like crest, composed of a few narrow, 

 long, black feathers. The eye is white. It is found 

 in the thorny thickets on the dry plains of Men- 

 doza, and is also common in Patagonia. In its habits 

 it closely resembles Serpophaga subcristata ; lives 

 always in pairs, perpetually moves about in a singu- 

 larly deliberate manner while searching through 

 the bush for small insects, the two birds always 

 talking together in little chirping notes, and occasion- 

 ally bursting out into a little shrill duet. It builds 

 a deep nest of fine dry grass, lined with feathers, 

 in a low thorn, and lays two white eggs. 



This diminutive Tyrant has a wide range on 

 the west side of the continent, extending from 

 Patagonia to the Ecuador Andes. 



