236 



BIRDS OF BRITISH GUIANA. 



Merume Mountains, Kamakusa {Whitely); Pomeroon River 

 (^W. L. Sclater) ; Barima River {Beebe). 



Extralimital Range. Trinidad, Tobago, Venezuela, Margarita 

 Islands, Colombia. 



Habits. Schoinburgk states in his Reis. Guian. iii. p. 700 that 

 the habits of this species are similar to those oE Saurophagus== 

 Pltangv^ sulphuratus, but is a much more quiet and sedate bird. 



The following note is quoted from Mr. H. Lloyd Price, " The 

 Nests and Eggs of some common Gruiana Birds " (Timehri, (2) v. 

 p. 61) : — " Tyrannus melancliolicus makes a small round nest of 

 dry sticks, lined with grass, generally found in the upper 

 branches of low trees ; the number of eggs laid are three, which 

 are white, thickly spotted with red-brown and grey." 



Mr. J. J. Quelch, who observed this species in Georgetown, 

 remarks (Timehri, (2) v. p. 90) : " A fourth kiskadee [Tyrannus 

 melancholicus) is also very plentiful about the city. This bird is 

 much more active than the preceding form {Megarhynehus 

 pitangua), and is stronger on the wing than P. sulphuratus owing 

 to its longer pinions. It is, however, much less lively, noisy and 

 quarrelsome than this common form." 



Genus MUSCIVORA Lac4p. 

 Muscivora Lacepede, Tabl. Ois. 1799, p. 6. Type M. tyrannus (Linn.). 



Fig. 96. — To show the incisions on the three outer primary-quills. 



This genus is easily distinguished by the peculiarly shaped, tips 

 of the first three primary-quills and the scissor-shaped tail with 

 the very long outer feathers. Coloration : male and female 

 similar. 



