BIRDS. 



43 



Family.— MUSCICAPID^. Vieill. 



Sub-Fam.— TYRANNINiE. Sw. 

 Saurophagus sulphuratus. Sivains. 



Lanius sulphuratus. Gmel. 



Tyrannus magnanimus. Vieill. Ency. Meth. p. 850. 



Tyrannus sulphuratus. D'Orb. et Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 42. 



The habits of this bird are singular. It is very common in the open country, 

 on the northern banks of the Plata, where it does not appear to be a bird of 

 passage. It obtains its food in many different methods. I have frequently 

 observed it, hunting a field, hovering over one spot like a hawk, and then 

 proceeding on to another. When seen from a short distance, thus suspended in the 

 air, it might very readily be mistaken for one of the rapacious order; its stoop, 

 however, is very inferior in force and rapidity. At other times the Saurophagus 

 haunts the neighbourhood of water, and there, remaining stationary, like a 

 kingfisher, it catches any small fish which come near the margin. These birds 

 not unfrequently are kept, with their wings cut, either in cages or in court-yards. 

 They soon become tame, and are very amusing from their cunning odd manners, 

 which were described to me, as being similar to those of the common magpie. 

 Their flight is undulatory, for the weight of the head and bill appears too great 

 for the body. In the evening the Saurophagus takes its stand on a bush, often 

 by the road-side, and continually repeats, without change, a shrill and rather 

 agreeable cry, which somewhat resembles articulate words. The Spaniards 

 say it. is like the words, " Bien te veo" (I see you well), and accordingly have 

 given it this name. 



Muscivora Tyrannus. G. R. Gray. 



Muscicapa Tyrannus. Sw. 



Tyrannus Savana. Vieill. Bonap. Am. Orn. pi. 1. f. 1. 



This species belongs to Mr. Swainson's genus Milvulus (more properly 

 Milvilus,) but which name Mr. G. R. Gray has altered to Muscivora as the latter 

 was proposed for Muse, forficata as far back as 1801, by Lacepede. 



It is very common near Buenos Ayres ; but I do not recollect having seen 

 many in Banda Oriental. It sits on the bough of a tree, and very frequently on 



