The BENTEVI (_Saurophagus sulphuratus_), a well-known species, resident
in Brazil, is recognisable by its comparatively long wings and slightly
incised tail. Its legs are powerful, tarsi high, toes long, and armed
with sickle-shaped claws; the beak, which is higher than it is broad,
and terminates in a hook, is of a conical shape, and equals the head
in length; its culmen is slightly rounded, and its base surrounded with
bristles. These latter are particularly numerous in the region of the
cheek-stripes. The length of this species is five and its breadth ten
inches; the tail measures three inches. Upon the upper part of the body
the plumage is of a greenish brown; the forehead and eyebrows white; the
crest-like feathers upon the crown of the head are of a brimstone-yellow;
the sides of the head, the bridles, and cheeks black; the wing-covers,
tail-feathers, and quills are broadly edged with rust-red; the throat
and fore part of the neck are white; the breast, belly, rump, and
legs sulphur-yellow. In the plumage of the young the top of the head
is entirely black; the wing and tail-feathers are broadly edged with
rust-red; and all the colours paler than in those of the adult birds. The
Bentevis are extensively met with throughout South America, particularly
in well-wooded pasture-land or meadows; indeed, their loud, penetrating
voices may literally be heard from every tree. We learn from Schomburghk
that though they subsist principally upon insects, they also devour
the nestlings of other species, and frequently visit the houses of the
inhabitants in order to pilfer scraps of the meat hung out to dry. So
bold are they that it is not uncommon to see them picking up their insect
prey from under the very feet of the herds of cattle as they graze.
Towards their feathered companions they exhibit unceasing animosity,
chasing them and harrying them from spot to spot with loud spiteful
cries, occasionally venturing to carry their pugnacious propensities so
far as to attack some of the larger birds of prey. As the breeding season
approaches, they become still more quarrelsome and noisy, until the air
resounds with the voices of both the males and females as they chase each
other in angry rivalry or sport among the branches, or so constantly
utter their strange cry as to appear prompted by an anxious desire to
outdo their companions, both in loudness and rapidity of utterance. This
cry, from which the name of the species is derived, has been freely
interpreted by the inhabitants of Monte Video and Buenos Ayres to mean,
"_Bien-te-veo_," "I see you well," and in Guiana into, "_Qu'est ce que
dit?_"
[Illustration: THE TRUE TYRANT SHRIKE, KING BIRD, OR TYRANT FLY-CATCHER
(_Tyrannus intrepidus_).]
The nest, which is large, thick, and ball-shaped, is artistically
constructed of moss, leaves, grass, and feathers, and is entered by a
small round aperture in the sides. The eggs, three or four in number,
have a pale greenish shell, marked with a few black and greenish blue
spots, which are most thickly strewn over the broad end. We learn from
Azara that the Bentevi is readily tamed, and when caged will live on
peaceful terms with its companions. The same authority mentions a
peculiarity that he observed in one of these birds that he himself
reared, namely, that it always seized the bits of flesh that were given
to it in his beak, and struck them repeatedly against the ground, as
though he supposed the morsels required killing before they could be
eaten.
* * * * *
The FORK-TAILED TYRANTS (_Milvulus_) differ from the groups already
described principally in the great length of their forked tails. Their
bodies are slender, and they have short necks, broad heads, and long
wings. Their large, strong beaks bulge slightly towards the sides,
terminate in a decided hook, and are partially covered with bristles
at the base; the feet are short; the toes of moderate size, armed with
very sharp, compressed claws; the three first wing-quills, of which the
second is the largest, are pointed at the tip. This latter peculiarity is
particularly apparent in the male. The plumage is soft and elastic, but
by no means thick.