Caranclio appears to roost in trees ; the Chi mango seems always

to settle down in the hollows in the open grass land and in this

position has a very owl-like appearance. A long stretch of wire

fencing with a single Caranclio perched on each post, motionless,

but with its large black wings half outspread to dry in the sun

is a quaint and not unusual sight in the morning.


On telegraph wires may often be seen flocks of what I

took to be Swallows, similar in colouring to our species but

considerably larger in size. On one occasion I noticed these

birds darting about under a wooden bridge over a creek, and

suspected nests but failed to find any. Generally their move¬

ments were in all respects Swallow - like, especially when

skimming over the surface of pond or river hawking for insects.


Of course Tyrants occupy a prominent position in the

avifauna of the country. At the head of these must be placed

the Scissors-Tail Tyrant (Milviilits tyrannus ); its colouring is,

indeed, quiet enough, white beneath, greyish above with black

head and tail, but the outer feathers of the tail are prolonged to

about a foot in length and it is in this that the striking appearance

of the bird lies. When resting, which it usually does in some

prominent position, the tail remains closed, but on taking wing

the feathers are widely extended forming a most graceful object.

Tike others of their kind these birds have irritable tempers and

a high courage ; should a Caranclio venture to alight on a tree

already occupied by one or more pairs of Scissors Tails, they will

attack him with great fury and pursue him for a considerable

distance with contumely and blows. Though this is I believe

supposed to be a purely insectivorous species, I once saw an

individual hard at work eating Elderberries.


The Sulphur Tyrant (Tyrannus sulfuratus) is also a very

common species, and goes by the names of “ Bicho feo ” or

“ Bien te veo ” both representing its cry. On one occasion

rowing on the Tigre in the evening, some tall Poplars on either

side of the river were full of them and the air resounded with

their loud cries, answering calls could be heard from the distance

and gradually approaching as others came in from their hunting

grounds to roost. These birds are said by Mr. Hudson to eat

small Snakes, seizing them by the tail and killing them against

a branch or stone.


Among the tall rushes in the creeks is the place to look

for the handsome Red-headed Starling (’ Amblyrhamphus

holosericeus ), usually in small flocks of about ten individuals.

On the wing the head is carried stretched out well in front and



