REED TYRANT 167 
feet, if suddenly startled, and after a few moments 
spent in circling like a Snipe, they drop again almost 
as suddenly as a shot, and as if from the very clouds.” 
REED TYRANT 
Hapalocercus flaviventris 
Above mouse-brown ; wings and tail rather darker, with edgings 
like the back ; vertex more or less tinged with rufous ; beneath yellow ; 
under wing-coverts pale yellow ; bill and feet black; length 4 inches. 
Tuis little bird is rarely met with in the desert 
pampas, but throughout the settled portion of the 
Buenos-Ayrean province it is one of the most common 
species of the Tyrannidz. It arrives from the north 
in September, and is very regular in its migrations, 
although apparently a very feeble flier. It frequents 
open grounds abounding in thistles, tall weeds, or 
bushes, and is consequently most abundant about 
houses. It is extremely active, and occasionally darts 
after a passing insect, and captures it on the wing, 
especially soft insects, like moths and butterflies, to 
which it is most partial. It subsists principally, how- 
ever, on small caterpillars and spiders, for which 
it searches diligently among the leaves, after the 
manner of the Wren. Although belonging to the 
songless division of the Passeres, this small Tyrant- 
bird possesses a formal song, which the male utters 
with great frequency, the only other member of the 
Tyrant family that I am acquainted with which 
