(BLACK-AND-YELLOW-CRESTED TYRANT.)
+Tyrannus aurantio-atro-cristatus+, _d'Orb. Voy., Ois._ p. 312
(Corrientes); _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 53; _Barrows, Bull.
Nutt. Orn. Club_, vol. viii. p. 202 (Entrerios). +Tyrannus
aurantio-atro-cristatus+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 453
(Rio Uruguay, Entrerios, Mendoza).
_Description._--Above cinereous; cap shortly crested, black, with a
large vertical spot of bright yellow; wings and tail brownish black,
wing-coverts and secondaries slightly edged with whitish; beneath as
above but rather paler, and with a very slight yellow tinge on the
crissum; bill and feet black: whole length 6·5 inches, wing 3·8,
tail 3·1. _Female_ similar, but outer primaries less acuminated.
_Hab._ Interior of Brazil, Eastern Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina down to
Buenos Ayres.
Alcide d'Orbigny met with this fine species in Corrientes, and Dr.
Burmeister in Entrerios, and again near Mendoza. In the neighbourhood
of Concepcion Mr. Barrows speaks of it as a "not very abundant summer
resident, but one not easily overlooked, owing to its habit of perching
on the topmost twig of any tree on which it alights, making forays from
time to time, when tempted by its winged prey."
In the vicinity of Buenos Ayres likewise this Tyrant is not a common
species. Like other birds of its genus it has an easy, rapid flight, and
perches on trees or other elevated places, from which it occasionally
makes a dash at passing insects. The nest, as in _T. melancholicus_,
is a very slight structure of slender sticks, and the eggs are four,
parchment colour, and spotted at the large end with dark brown or
chocolate. Mr. Barrows found a Cow-bird's egg in a nest of this species,
which makes me think that it is less vigilant and warlike than _T.
melancholicus_.