(WHITE-WINGED BÉCARD.)
+Pachyrhamphus polychropterus+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 56;
_Durnford, Ibis_, 1878, p. 61 (Buenos Ayres).
_Description._--Above cinereous, upper back blackish; cap shining
black; wings black, margins of coverts and secondaries white; tail
black, four outer pairs of rectrices tipped with white; beneath
cinereous, paler on the middle of the belly; under wing-coverts pale
grey; bill and feet blackish: whole length 6·5 inches, wing 3·0,
tail 2·6. _Female_ above dull green, below yellowish; wings margined
with rufous.
_Hab._ South Brazil, Paraguay, and N.E. Argentina.
This pretty little bird, the only species of the large South-American
family _Cotingidæ_ with which I am acquainted, comes as far south as
Buenos Ayres, but is very scarce. It lives in woods, and is a shy,
solitary bird with nothing in its flight and general appearance to
distinguish it from a Tyrant-bird. When flying, it utters a whistling
note.
In January 1887, Durnford met with a pair of this species of Bécard in
the riverain wood near Belgrano, and secured the male. They were busy
catching flies, making frequent sallies from a willow tree in pursuit of
them. Mr. Barrows obtained three specimens of what was probably the same
bird at Concepcion in Entrerios, in November 1886 (_see_ Bull. Nutt.
Orn. Cl. viii. p. 203).
[Illustration: _a._ First primary of a male _Pachyrhamphus_.
_b._ Second ditto.]
In the _male_ of this species, as in many other Bécards, the second
primary is abnormally shortened, being only about one inch in length.
See remarks on this subject in P. Z. S. 1857, p. 72, whence the woodcut
exhibiting this strange feature is taken by kind permission.