ELEVEN WEEKS IN NORTH-EASTERN BRAZIL. 265 



no loud call-note. It is common in gardens, and has rather a pleasant, 

 low, warbling-like song of a few notes ; when the bird sings, its throat- 

 feathers are considerably puffed out. The elongated head-feathers form 

 a sort of crest, which is erected when the bird is excited. 

 Eyes brown. 



53. MTIOZETETES SIMILIS. 



This species of Tyrant-bird is very abundant in those parts of Brazil I 

 visited. In its habits it resembles Pitangus sulphuratus, being usually 

 seen singly or in pairs, perched in conspicuous positions on the projecting 

 or topmost branches of the trees, and flying off from them in pursuit of 

 its prey. It is common in gardens, even in the neighbourhood of houses, 

 and, compared with the Pitangus, it is a silent bird, without the charac- 

 teristic notes of that species. The Brazilians, however, do not discrimi- 

 nate between the two, and call both alike " Bentivi." 



Eyes greyish brown. 



54. PITANGUS STTLPHTJKATUS. 



This bird is one of the very commonest and most characteristic of the 

 country, being seen nearly everywhere, and from its habits most con- 

 spicuous, even to the casual observer. The " Bentivi," as it is called, 

 from its note, almost always selects some prominent twig or branch of a 

 tree on which it perches, and from that post of vantage flies off after any 

 passing insect ; then, having captured it, it returns to its favourite spot 

 to repeat the process, varied only by continually uttering its loud, some- Ibis, 1881, 

 what plaintive, but screaming cry, ben-ti-vi, ben-ti-vi, &c. Frequently **' 

 two may be seen together, but they are not at all gregarious in their 

 habits. Where these birds are common, as in most gardens in the neigh- 

 oourhood of houses, the ear soon gets to recognize their continued ben-ti- 

 vis as a pleasant evidence of the Neotropical fauna. The flight is weak 

 and undulating and never long sustained. 



55. HlBTJKDINEA BELLICOSA. 



The first specimen of this curiously coloured Tyrant I saw was just 

 after landing at Parahyba, where it was perched on the roof of one of 

 the houses close to the river. Subsequently I saw it again several times, 

 both there and at Quipapa, in similar positions, but being always in the 

 towns, and on houses, or, more frequently, churches, I was unable to get 

 a shot at one, for fear of consequences in the shape of a " row " with the 

 police or other authorities. From its post of vantage it flies off after 

 passing insects, and after capturing them returns to its former perch, in 

 the manner of other Tyrannidse. I was rather surprised to meet a pair 

 of the same birds a few days afterwards at Macuca, both of which I got. 

 They were met with in capoeira, a long way from any houses, perching 

 in the larger trees which rose above the thick scrub and bushes below. 



Eyes brown. 



