62 



MALDONADO. 



1832-3. 



eminently sociable^ and lives on the open plains without art 

 or disguise the cuckoo, as every one knows, is a singu- 

 larly shy bird; it frequents the most retired thickets, and 

 feeds on fruit and caterpillars. In structure these birds are 

 likewise widely removed from each other. 



I will only mention two other birds, which are very com- 

 mon, and render themselves prominent from their habits. The 

 Saurophagus sulphureus is typical of the great American tribe 

 of Tyrant-flycatchers. In its structure it closely approaches 

 the true shrikes, but in its habits may be compared to many 

 birds. I have frequently observed it, hunting a field, hovering 

 over one spot like a hawk, and then proceeding on to another. 

 When thus seen suspended in the air, it might very readily 

 at a short distance be mistaken for one of the Rapacious 

 order ; its stoop, however, is very inferior in force and ra- 

 pidity. At other times the Saurophagus haunts the neigh- 

 bourhood of water, and there, like a kingfisher, remaining 

 stationary, it catches any small fish which may come near 

 the margin. These birds are not unfrequently kept either 

 in cages, or in courtyards with their wings cut. They soon 

 become tame, and are very amusing from their cunning odd 

 manners, which v»^ere described to me, as being similar to 

 those of the common magpie. Their flight is undulatory, for 

 the weight of the head and bill appear too great for the 

 body. In the evening the Saurophagus takes its stand on a 

 bush, often by the road-side, and continually repeats, with- 

 out change, a shrill and rather agreeable cry, which some- 

 what resembles articulate words. The Spaniards say it is 

 like the words, " Bien te veo (I see you well), and accord- 

 ingly have given it this name. 



A mocking-bird, Orpheus modulator, called by the inha- 

 bitants Calandria, is remarkable, from possessing a song far 

 superior to that of any other bird in the country : indeed, it 

 is nearly the only bird in South America which I have 

 observed to take its stand for the purpose of singing. The 



* See Azara, vol. iii., p. 170. 



