BIENTEVEO TYRANT 177 



Humming-bird and Crow, should be members of 

 the same family ! 



The Bienteveo has a wide range in South America, 

 and inhabits the whole of the Argentine country 

 down to Buenos Ayres, where it is very common. 

 It is resident and lives in pairs, the sexes being always 

 faithful. The body is stout, somewhat large for a 

 Tyrant-bird ; the length being nine and a half 

 inches, including the beak, which is a little over an 

 inch in length. The wings are blunt and compar- 

 atively short, measuring when spread fourteen inches. 

 The head is large, and a broad black band extends 

 from the beak its entire length, and above this is 

 a pure white stripe ; the crown is black, concealing 

 in its loose abundant feathers a brilliant yellow crest, 

 which shows only when the bird is excited. The 

 upper plumage, including wings and tail, is pale 

 brown ; the entire under-surface sulphur yellow. 

 In both sexes the plumage is alike. 



In Buenos Ayres the Bienteveo is found in every 

 orchard and plantation ; it is familiar with man and 

 invariably greets his approach with loud notes 

 especially with a powerful three-syllabled cry, in 

 which people fancy there is a resemblance to the 

 words Bien-te-veo (" I see you well ") ; while its 

 big head and beak, and strongly contrasted colours, 

 especially the black and white head-stripes, seem to 

 give it a wonderfully knowing look, as it turns its 

 head from side to side to examine the intruder. It 

 is a loud-voiced garrulous bird, and has a great range 

 of sounds, from grating screams to long, clear, almost 



M I 



