ROCKY MOUNTAIN ANTCATCHER. 155 



the produce of the soil would inevitably be destroyed in those fertile 

 parts of the globe. The ant-hills of South America are often more 

 than twenty feet in diameter, and many feet in height. These wonder- 

 ful edifices are thronged with two hundred fold more inhabitants, and 

 are proportionally far more numerous, than the small ones with which 

 we are familiar. Breeding in vast numbers, and multiplying with great 

 celerity and profusion, the increase of these insects would soon enable 

 them to swarm over the greatest extent of country, were not their 

 propagation and diffusion limited by the active exertions of that part 

 of the animal creation, which continually subsist by their destruction. 



The Antcatchers run rapidly on the ground, alighting but seldom on 

 trees, and then on the lowest branches ; they generally associate in 

 small flocks, feed exclusively on insects, and most commonly frequent 

 the large ant-hills before mentioned. Several different species of these 

 birds are often observed to live in perfect harmony on the same mound, 

 which, as it supplies an abundance of food for all, removes one of the 

 causes of discord which is most universally operative throughout animated 

 nature. On the same principle we might explain the comparative mild- 

 ness of herbivorous animals, as well as the ferocity and solitary habits 

 of carnivorous, and particularly of rapacious animals, which repulse all 

 others from their society, and forbid even their own kind to approach 

 the limits of their sanguinary domain. 



The Antcatchers never soar high in the air, nor do they extend their 

 flight to any great distance without alighting to rest, in consequence of 

 the shortness of their wings and tail, which, in fact, seem to be seldom 

 employed for any other purpose than to assist them in running along 

 the ground, or in leaping from branch to branch of bushes and low trees, 

 an exercise in which they display remarkable activity. Some species, 

 like the Woodpeckers, climb on the trunks of trees in pursuit of insects ; 

 and, it would appear, from their restless habits and almost constant 

 motion, that their limited excursions are entirely attributable to the 

 want of more ample provision for flight. The Antcatchers are never 

 found in settled districts, where their favorite insects are generally less 

 abundant ; but they live in the dense and remote parts of forests, far 

 from the abodes of man and civilization. They also dislike open and 

 wet countries. 



The note of the Antcatchers is as various as the species are different, 

 but it is always very remarkable and peculiar. Their flesh is oily and 

 disagreeable to the taste ; and, when the bird is opened, a very offensive 

 odor is diffused, from the remains of half-digested ants and other insects, 

 contained in the stomach. 



The plumage of the Antcatchers very probably undergoes considera- 

 ble changes in color. The size of the sexes is different, the female being 

 much larger than the male. Such variations may have induced natural- 



