SCARLET TYRANT 181 



is placed near the top. Outside, the nest has a very 

 disorderly appearance, as there are always long straws 

 and sometimes rags hanging down ; the cavity is 

 deeply lined with feathers, and is the hottest nest I 

 know. The eggs are five, very long, pointed, cream- 

 coloured, and spotted, chiefly at the larger end, with 

 chocolate and purple. 



They are bold in defence of their nest ; one pair 

 which bred annually in my orchard always attacked 

 me with the greatest fury whenever I ventured near 

 the peach-tree in which they had their big nest of 

 wool, darting down repeatedly and striking my head 

 with beak and wings. 



SCARLET TYRANT 



Pyrocephalus rubineus 



Above very dark cinereous, crested head and body below scarlet ; 

 bill and feet black ; length 5.2 inches. Female, above pale cinereous, 

 below white ; breast striated with crimson ; belly more or less rosy 

 red. 



THE Scarlet Tyrant is about five and a half inches 

 long ; the neck, back, wings, and tail are black ; 

 all the rest of the plumage the most vivid scarlet 

 imaginable. The loose feathers of the crown, which 

 form a crest, are especially brilliant, and seem to 

 glow like a live coal amidst the green foliage. Beside 

 this bright Tyrant-bird even the Rainbow Tanagers 

 look pale, and the " Jewel Humming-birds, seen 



