THASTNOPHILDTJE. 177 



On the other hand, in the forests of Amazonia, Guiana, and Colombia 

 Fonnicariidce are one of the most prevalent and abundant forms of 

 Bird-life. 'M.r. Salvin has enumerated 50 species of Formicariidce 

 in his list of the birds of British Guiana *, arxd M. Taczanowski 

 includes no less than 94 species in his Ornithology of Peru. 



We know as yet very little as to the reproductive habits of the 

 FormicarUdai ; but, so far as it yet appears, they seem to be nest- 

 builders near the ground or upon it, and to lay spotted eggs. 



Kej to the Subfamilies. 



A. Tarsi moderate or short, 



a. Bill robust and strongly hooked ; 



Laniine ' I. THAMNOPHILINM, p. 177. 



b. Bill weaker, slightly hooked ; 



Sylviine II. FORMICARIIN.^, p. 228. 



B. Tarsi much elongated HI. GRALLAEIIN^, p. 306. 



Subfamily I. THAMNOPHILIN^. 



The Thumnopliilhio:, with which we commmence the Formicariine 

 series, have mostly strong Shrike-like bills,which led the older authors 

 to include them in the genus Lanius. Batara is the gigantic form of 

 the group, and has a truly formidable biU, which is doubtless used 

 for the destruction of smaller birds as well as of large insects. Tham- 

 nopliilus, the typical genus, contains a large series of species varying 

 much in dimensions and in other particulars. Neoctantes and 

 Ch/toctantes are two abnormal monotypes, with curious upturned 

 bills and clad in uniform black plumage. 



The Thrinnopliilind' are spread all over the Neotropical Kegion 

 from Mexico to Argentina, where, however, they are scarce and 

 only feebly represented on the northern frontiers. They are not 

 fouiid in Chili and Patagonia, and are also absent from the AntUlean 

 Subregion. 



Key to the Genera. 



A. Bill very strongly hooked. 



a. Bill short and stout 1. Cymbilanius^, p. 178. 



b. Bill elongated, much compressed 2. Bataea, p. 179. 



B. Bill less sti-ongly hooked. 



c. Rictal bristles obsolete. 

 a'. Bill sti'onger. 



a". Commissure straight. 



a'". Uropygial plumes normal. 



i Bill more compressed 3. Tilvmnophilus, p. 180. 



I BiU widened at base 4. Biatas, p. 214. 



* Ibis, 1885, p. 423. 



