PIPIRY FLYCATCHER. 393 



what farther along the eastern coast of the Peninsula. It comes from 

 Cuba, where the species is said to be rather abundant, as well as in the 

 other West India Islands. Its whole demeanour so much resembles that 

 of the Tyrant Flycatcher, that were it not for its greater size, and the dif- 

 ference of its notes, it might be mistaken for that bird, as I think it has 

 been on former occasions by travellers less intent than I, on distinguish- 

 ing species. At the season when I visited the Floridas, there was not a 

 Key ever so small without at least a pair of them. 



Their flight is performed by a constant flutter of the Avings, unless 

 when the bird is in chase, or has been rendered shy, when it exhibits a 

 power and speed equal to those of any other species of the genus. Du- 

 ring the love season, the male and female are seen rising from a dry twig 

 together, either perpendicularly, or in a spiral manner, crossing each 

 other as they ascend, twittering loudly, and conducting themselves in a 

 manner much resembling that of the Tyrant Flycatcher. When in pur- 

 suit of insects, they dart at them with great velocity. Should any large 

 bird pass near their stand, they immediately pursue it, sometimes to a 

 considerable distance. I have seen them, after teasing a Heron or Fish 

 Crow, follow them nearly half a mile, and return exulting to the tree on 

 which they had previously been perched. Yet I frequently observed 

 that the approach of a White-headed Pigeon or Zenaida Dove, never 

 ruffled their temper. To the Grakles they were particularly hostile, and 

 on all occasions drove them away from their stand, or the vicinity of their 

 nest, with unremitting perseverance. The reason in this case, and in 

 that of the Fish Crow, was obvious, for these birds sucked their eggs 

 or destroyed their young whenever an opportunity occurred. This was 

 also the case with the Mangrove Cuckoo. 



This species is careless of the approach of man, probably because it 

 is seldom disturbed by him. I have been so near some of them as to see 

 distinctly the colour of their eyes. No sooner, however, had it begun to 

 build its nest, than it flew about me or my companions, as if much ex- 

 asperated at our being near, frequently snapping its beak with force, 

 and in various ways loudly intimating its disapprobation of our conduct. 

 Then as if we retired from the neighbourhood of its nest, it flew upwards, 

 chattering notes of joy. 



They fix their nest somewhat in the manner of the King Bird, that is, 

 on horizontal branches, or in the large fork of a mangrove, or bush of any 

 other species, without paying much attention to its position, with respect to 



