ELAINE A ALBICEPS 7.1 



they are in exact agreement with examples from Brazil^ Uruguay, 

 and the IsTorthern Argentine. 



This is a remarkable bird, having its haunt in forest depths, 

 where its startling whistle at once attracts attention. It took 

 me days to secure a specimen and several more to verify its 

 call, for it is not easy of access in dark covert, where one must 

 approach very nearly to see at all clearly. The first specimen 

 I shot was carried down the river, the second was lost in the 

 undergrowth, the third had the lower mandible shot away. 

 The white crest is conspicuous at a considerable distance if 

 lit up by a transient sunbeam penetrating the forest gloom. 

 To the White- Crested Tyrant I owe my single specimen of the 

 Pigmy Owl, as I have related in my account of that bird. Its 

 repeated whistling and excited behaviour when harrassing the 

 Owl gave me my first opportunity to observe it closely. It 

 feeds on phytophagous larvae, also on coleoptera. The stomachs 

 of these three specimens contained in two instances larvee, in the 

 third coleoptera as well. 



Darwin says: — "It inhabits the gloomiest recesses of the 

 great forests. It generally remains quietly seated high up 

 amongst the tallest trees, whence it constantly repeats a very 

 plaintive gentle whistle, in an uniform tone. The sound can 

 be heard at some distance, yet it is difficult to perceive 

 from which quarter it proceeds, and from how far ofi* ; and we 

 remained in consequence for some time in doubt from what 

 bird it proceeded." 



In the Province of Buenos Ayres Durnford records it a 

 spring and summer visitor, and at these seasons pretty common, 

 especially in the riverain wood. The nest he describes as " a 

 small and very neat structure of lichen or moss lined with hair 

 and feathers not unlike our English Chaffinch's nest, and is 

 usually placed about ten feet from the ground in the fork of 

 a tree." 



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