BIRDS. 
43 
F a mil y MUS C I C API D/E . Vieill. 
Sub-Fam. — TYRANNINiE. Sw. 
Saurophagus sulphuratus. Swains. 
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 
