lU-1 . THE FFATHERED TRIBES. * 



number of the same species, and frequently join company willi other small birds. At 

 such times their chirping is nither agrccublc. But about nine o'clock they separate, 

 and retire alone, imtil the follo^ving day, into the most shady recesses of the forests. 

 Their food consists of little wild fruits ; thej^ also eat insects. 



Tlie Cotingas, having a weak bill, seek insects, berries, and tender fruits. They reside 

 in the humid jjlaces of America, and are remarkable for the purple and azure colours of 

 the plumage of the males during the breeding season. During the rest of the year both 

 sexes are tinted gray bi'own. 



The Scaiiet Cotinga * is found, Mr. Watertou states, in the deepest recesses of the 

 forest : its cro'wn is flaming red ; to this abruptly succeeds a dark shining brown, 

 reaching half way down the buck. The remainder of the back, the I'ump, the tail, the 

 extremity of which is edged with black, are of a lively red ; the breast reddish black, 

 the wings browu. This bird has no song : it is solitary, and utters a monotonous 

 whistle, which sounds Kko " Quet." It is fond of the seeds of the hitea tree, aiid those of 

 the siloabali, ^^■hich ripen in December, and continue on the trees for above tvv'o months. 

 It is found throughout the }'ear in Denierara ; but nothing is known of its incubation. 



Intimately connected with the genus AnqyeUs is that of Procnia>i, which includes the 

 Campanero, or Bell-bird of South America. This bird is about the size of the jay, and its 

 plumage is white. A spiral tube rises from its forehead, extending, as "Waterton assures 

 us, to no less than three inches in length, and coimnunicating with the palate in such 

 a way that when filled with air it looks like a spire. At other times it hangs down. 

 The note of this bird is loud and clear, like the sound of the tolling of a bell, and wo arc 

 assured that it falls upon the ear so suddenly and soleimily that it is often A^ery startHug. 

 The toll of its voice sounds through the far-stretching wood, and then there is a silence ; 

 again the toll is repeated, and so distinctly is it uttered that it may sometimes be heard 

 at the distance of three miles. 



THE UOUEMIAN W.\X\\'lXG.t 



The Bohemian wax-\\dng, or waxen cliattercr, is eminently distinguished botli by the 

 a-racefulness of its form and the brilliance and A-ariety of the colours with wliicli its 

 plumage is adorned. It is about the size of the starling, liasing a short, strong beak ; (he 

 head and upper parts are brown, and the feathers on the crown of the liead form a 

 pointed crescent ; the under parts are ashy brown, the tail is black, tipped with yellow, 

 the wings are long, the legs and toes are short and strong, and the tarsus is shorter than ^ 

 the middle toe. 



This bird is a winter visitor to Britain, coming liitlier fi'om northern latitudes, 

 and sometimes large flocks of tliem have been found dispersed in various parts of the 

 kingdom. Only a few reach the soutliern countries. The country in wliich tlie young 

 arc reared appears not to be known with any degree of accuracy, tliougli the waxwing 

 has been affirmed to be a native of Tartary, breeding among the rocks of tliat land. 

 By others it has been suggested, as most probable, that its chief place of abode is llie 

 extensive table-lauds of central Asia ; wliile M. Tennninck states that the European 

 waxwing breeds in tliu eastern parts of the north of Eui'ope, ajid li\cs in the northern 

 parts of Asia. 



Dr. Ilichardson affinns that it was discovered in America, near the sources of the l',llc 

 river, and by himself in the neighbourhood of Great Bear lake, and that in its aulumn 

 migration southwards, it must cross the territory of the United iStatcs, if it does Jiot 

 uctuallv winter within it, although he luid not licard of these l)irds being seen in Ame- 

 rica to the southward of the fifty-fifth parallel of latitude. 'I'lils bird appears in liocks 



• Aniijclis Ciunife-x. t liuiii1)yiivoni OuiTulii. 



