i6o 



cassell's book of birds. 



hook, is of a conical shape, and equals the head in length ; its culmen is slightly rounded, and 

 its base surrounded with bristles. These latter are particularly numerous in the region of the 

 cheek-stripes. The length of this species is five and its breadth ten inches ; the tail measures three 

 inches. Upon the upper part of the body the plumage is of a greenish brown ; the forehead and 

 eyebrows white ; the crest-like feathers upon the crown of the head are of a brimstone-yellow ; the 

 sides of the head, the bridles, and cheeks black ; the wing-covers, tail-feathers, and quills are broadly 

 edged with rust-red ; the throat and fore part of the neck are white ; the breast, belly, rump, and legs 

 sulphur-yellow. In the plumage of the young the top of the head is entirely black ; the wing and 

 tail-feathers are broadly edged with rust-red ; and all the colours paler than in those of the adult 



THE TRUE TYRANT SHRIKE, KING BIRD, OR TYRANT FLY-CATCHER ( Tyrannies intrepidus). 



birds. The Bentevis are extensively met with throughout South America, particularly in well- 

 wooded pasture-land or meadows ; indeed, their loud, penetrating voices may literally be heard from 

 every tree. We learn from Schomburghk that though they subsist principally upon insects, they also 

 devour the nestlings of other species, and frequently visit the houses of the inhabitants in order to 

 pilfer scraps of the meat hung out to dry. So bold are they that it is not uncommon to see them 

 picking up their insect prey from under the very feet of the herds of cattle as they graze. Towards 

 their feathered companions they exhibit unceasing animosity, chasing them and harrying them from 

 spot to spot with loud spiteful cries, occasionally venturing to carry their pugnacious propensities so 

 far as to attack some of the larger birds of prey. As the breeding season approaches, they become 

 still more quarrelsome and noisy, until the air resounds with the voices of both the males and females 

 as they chase each other in angry rivalry or sport among the branches, or so constantly utter their 

 strange cry as to appear prompted by an anxious desire to outdo their companions, both in loudness 

 and rapidity of utterance. This cry, from which the name of the species is derived, has been freely 

 interpreted by the inhabitants of Monte Video and Buenos Ayres to mean, " Bien-te-veo" " I see you 

 well," and in Guiana into, " Qi/'est ce que dit V 



