232 B1RT1S OF BRITISH GUIANA. 



face of flight-quills pale brown, the inner edges yellowish white ; 

 lower aspect of tail also pale brown. 



Total length 160 mm., exposed culmen 12, wing 97, tail 76, 

 tarsus 15. 



The specimen from which the description is taken was collected 

 on the Kamakabra River in 1911. 



Adult female. Similar to the adult male in coloration but rather 

 smaller in measurements. Wing 86 mm. 



The young bird differs from the adult. in having the feathers 

 of the upper surface edged with rufous and in the absence of the 

 yellow coronal patch, 



Breeding-season. April (Beele). 



JVest. Vide Beebe infra. 



Eggs. Vide Beebe infra. , 



Range in British Guiana. Kamakabra River, Bonasika River, 

 Abary River, Arawai River (McConnell collection) ; Bartica^ Mount 

 Roraima ( Whitely). 



Habits. Schomburgk states (Reis. Guian. iii. p. 700) that the 

 mode of life and habits of this bird are similar to those of 

 Tyrannus melanchoUcus (q. v. p. 234). 



The following notes are quoted from Beebe, ' Tropical Wild Life 

 in British Guiana,' p. 225 : — 



"Though the eggs of this species have been collected, no de- 

 scription of the nest has been given. The genus Empidonomvs is 

 very closely allied to Tyrannus, so one would expect corresponding 

 nests. They proved to be somewhat similar, but the nest of 

 Tyrannus, though rather a shabby affair, was much more specialised 

 than that of the bird in question. In Tyrannus the nest hollow 

 was cup-shaped and well lined with grass, and the whole structure 

 was more skilfully put together with a more careful gradation of 

 material. 



" A nest of the Varied Flycatcher was taken on April 20, from 

 one of the outer branches of a small dead sruava tree. At 

 first sight it appeared to be merely a weak flimsy platform of 

 twigs fashioned like the nest of a dove and placed in an exposed 

 position. If the parent birds had not been seen, it might easily 

 have been taken for the nest of a dove. It was built in a small 

 fork and was partly supported by a dead branch that grew close 

 by. Every puff of wind caused it to sway and shake, and it was 

 difficult to believe that it would not soon fall to pieces. The basic • 



