178 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
mellow call-notes. It has one pretty habit, which 
brings out an agreeable feature in its character. 
Though the male and female are greatly attached, 
they do not go afield to hunt in company, like the 
Short-winged Tyrant, but separate to meet again 
at intervals during the day. One of a couple (say 
the female) returns to the trees where they are 
accustomed to meet, and after a time, becoming im- 
patient or anxious at the delay of her consort, utters 
a very long, clear call-note. He is perhaps three or 
four fields away, watching for a frog beside a pool, 
or beating, harrier-like, over a thistle-bed, but 
he hears the note and presently responds with one 
of equal power. Then perhaps for half an hour, at 
intervals of half a minute, the birds answer each 
other, though the powerful call of the one must 
interfere with his hunting. At length he returns; 
then the two birds, perched close together, with their 
yellow bosoms almost touching, crests elevated, and 
beating the branch with their wings, scream their 
loudest notes in concert—a confused jubilant noise 
that rings through the whole plantation. Their joy 
at meeting is patent, and their action corresponds to 
the warm embrace of a loving human couple. 
I have frequently stood for the space of half an 
hour concealed amongst the trees where a Bienteveo 
was calling to her mate, cheered at intervals by the 
far-off faint response, for the pleasure of witnessing 
in the end the joyful reunion of the two birds. 
Except when breeding the Bienteveo is a peaceful 
bird, never going out of its way to make gratuitous 
