MYIOTHERETES RUFIVENTRIS 61 



Myiotheretes ruflventris, Bumford, lUs, p. 175, 1877, p. 394, 



1878; Sclater, Gat. Birds Brit. Mus., xiv, p. 8, 1888; Sclater and 

 Hudson, Argentine Orn., i, p. 112, 1888; Oustalet, Miss. 8ci. Gap Horn, 

 Ois., p. 51, 1891. 



Habitat. — Bolivia and Paraguay, to Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego. 



cJ Useless Bay Settlement, 8rd N'ov., 1904. 

 Iris — brown ; bill and legs — black. 



All expeditions recording the handsome Chocolate Tyrant 

 have found it uncommon in all localities. This was my 

 experience. In six months I saw two solitary examples — 

 one in the Sierra Carmen Sylva, some twelve miles to the 

 south of Useless Bay Settlement ; the other on the Cheena 

 Creek plateau in the same country as that frequented by 

 Attagis and Eudromias. Its haunt is high black-looking 

 peaty wind-swept moorland, where there are stretches of 

 quaking bog, and in the firmer ground no other vegetation 

 than hummocks of Azorella, scattered grass tufts, and the 

 crowberry {Emj)etrum nigrum). It is a remarkable bird, 

 not likely to be overlooked by anyone who encounters it ; 

 not only is its colouring conspicuous, but its habits are 

 such as attract attention. It takes wing readily, flies low, 

 skimming the ground, and perches on whatever elevation 

 is available — hummock or stone — challenging one as it were 

 by fluttering its wings. It runs along the ground in sharp 

 rushes, pulling up with its head in the air. It reminds one 

 much of the Fieldfare. 



Azara met with what he believed to be these birds at Rio 

 Santa Lucia, in Uruguay, and he thus characteristically 

 describes their habits : — " Caminaban con soltura y ligereza por 

 los campos, que alii son muy pelados, cogiendo insectos en el 

 suelo. Alguna vez subian sobre las pequenas motas de tierra, 

 porque alii no habia varillas ni arboles. Su volar es descansado." 



D'Orbigny is for himself exceedingly brief, but to the 

 point, in disposing of so remarkable a bird : — " Ses habitudes 



