BLACK-CROWNED TYRANT 143 
white eggs, with large dark red spots, chiefly at 
the big end. 
I cannot refrain from quoting a passage from Mr. 
Barrows’ paper, descriptive of the lively temper and 
habits of this bird : 
“ This species often persecutes smaller birds in a 
way which seems to imply pure love of mischief. 
One afternoon in July, when the river had fallen 
some feet after an unusual rise, I was walking along 
the lines of drift left by the falling water, and watch- 
ing the different birds which were picking up insects 
or other food from the wind-rows. A score or two 
of the little chestnut-backed Centrites were running 
about, and here and there a Texnioptera was looking 
quietly on. Suddenly I heard a chirp of distress, and 
looking up saw one of these small birds apparently 
making every effort to escape from a Tenioptera, 
which was following in full chase. The two birds 
were hardly a length apart and both going at full 
speed, doubling and dodging in a way that would 
have done credit to a bat. The chase lasted perhaps 
for half a minute, when the smaller bird alighted, 
and at once the other also alighted and began running 
about unconcernedly and picking up food. But the 
instant the smaller one made a start his enemy was 
at his heels (or more properly his tail) again, and he 
-was forced to alight. This was repeated so often that 
I was on the point of shooting the pursuer, when, 
without any notice, he flew quietly off, and resumed 
his usual demeanour. It looked like a case of simple 
spite, for even if there were twenty other birds 
