SHORT-WINGED TYRANT 161 
The nest is made of dry grass in a thistle-bush or 
clump of reeds, and is rather deep and cup-shaped. 
The eggs are four in number, white, and spotted at 
the larger end with dark red. 
SHORT-WINGED TYRANT 
Machetornis rixosa 
Above brownish olive; wings and tail brown, the latter terminated 
by a yellowish band; middle of cap occupied by a scarlet crest ; 
beneath bright yellow, paler on the throat; bill and feet black ; 
length 7.2 inches. Young without the scarlet crest. 
Tus species, found in the open districts throughout 
South America, from Venezuela to Buenos Ayres, 
where it is quite common, has very interesting habits, 
It is seven inches and a half long, has a plump body, 
short wings, and long legs. The upper plumage is 
light brown, the throat, breast, and belly yellow, 
and the male has a concealed crest of a bright orange- 
red colour. 
It resembles the true Tyrants in disposition, in 
its shrill piercing language, and in the habit of 
perching and breeding in trees. On the other hand, 
like the long-legged Myiotheretes, that lives on the 
open plains, it feeds exclusively on the ground, over 
which it runs with a speed possessed by few perching 
species. The general impression one forms is that 
in manners and appearance the Short-winged Tyrant 
is quite unlike any other species, though all its habits 
L I 
