1832-3.] THE TYRANT-FLYCATCHER. 51 



her eggs at intervals, the cause of her depositing her eggs ill other 

 birds' nests, and leaving them to the care of foster-parents. I am 

 strongly inclined to believe that this view is correct, from having 

 been independently led (as we shall hereafter see) to an analogous 

 conclusion with regard to the South American ostrich, the females 

 of which are parasitical, if I may so express it, on each other ; each 

 female laying several eggs in the nests of several other females, and 

 the male ostrich undertaking all the cares of incubation, like the 

 strange foster-parents with the cuckoo. 



I will mention only two other birds, which are very common, 

 and render themselves prominent from their habits. The Sauro- 

 phagus sulphuratus is typical of the great American tribe of 

 tyrant-flycatchers. In its structure it closely approaches the true 

 shrikes, but in its habits may be compared to many birds. I have 

 frequently observed it, hunting a field, hovering over one spot like 

 a hawk, and then proceeding on to another. When seen thus 

 suspended in the air, it might very readily at a short distance be 

 mistaken for one of the Eapacious order ; its stoop, however, is 

 very inferior in force and rapidity to that of a hawk. At other 

 times the Saurophagus haunts the neighbourhood of water, and 

 there, like a kingfisher, remaining stationary, it catches any small 

 fish which may come near the margin. These birds are not un- 

 frequently kept either in cages or in courtyards, with their wiugs 

 cut. They soon become tame, and are very amusing from their 

 cunning odd manners, which were described to me as being similar 

 to those of the common magpie. Their flight is uudulatory, for the 

 weight of the head and bill appears too great for the body. In 

 the evening the Saurophagus takes its stand on a bush, often by 

 the roadside, and continually repeats without change a shrill and 

 rather agreeable cry, which somewhat resembles articulate words : 

 the Spaniards say it is like the words " Bien te veo " (I see you 

 well), and accordingly have given it this name. 



A mocking-bird (Mimus orpheus), called by the inhabitants 

 Calandria, is remarkable, from possessing a song far superior to 

 that of any other bird in the country : indeed, it is nearly the only 

 bird in South America which I have observed to take its stand for 

 the purpose of singing. The song may be compared to that of the 

 Sedge warbler, but is more powerful ; some harsh notes and some 

 very high ones, being mingled with a pleasant warbliug. It is 

 heard only during the spring. At other times its cry is harsh and 



