SCISSOR-TAIL TYRANT 191 



The tail is forked, and the two outer feathers 

 exceed by over four inches in length the next two. 

 The total length of the adult male is fourteen inches, 

 the tail being ten inches long ; this species is there- 

 fore one of the longest-tailed we know of. The tail 

 of the female is about two inches shorter than that 

 of the male. The head is intense black ; the plum- 

 age of the crown is rather long and loose, and when 

 raised displays a vivid yellow crest. The neck and 

 upper surface is light, clear grey ; the under surface 

 pure white ; the tail black. During flight the two 

 long feathers of the tail stream out behind like a pair 

 of black ribbons ; frequently the bird pauses sud- 

 denly in its flight, and then the two long feathers 

 open out in the form of the letter V. 



The Scissor-tail is migratory, and arrives, already 

 mated, at Buenos Ayres at the end of September, 

 and takes its departure at the end of February in 

 families old and young birds together. In dis- 

 position and general habits it resembles the true 

 Tyrant-birds, but differs from them in language, 

 its various chirping and twittering notes having a 

 hard percussive sound, which Azara well compares 

 to the snapping of castanets. It prefers open situa- 

 tions with scattered trees and bushes; and is also 

 partial to marshy grounds, where it takes up a 

 position on an elevated stalk to watch for insects, 

 and seizes them in the air like the Flycatcher. It 

 also greedily devours elderberries and other small 

 fruits. 



The nest is not deep, but is much more elaborately 



