2« ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. [pakt in. 



although recognizing the fact of its zoological and geographical 

 diversity, as well as its vest superiority over every otlier sub- 

 region in the number and variety of its animal forms. 



The reptiles, fishes, mollusca, and insects of this sub-region 

 have been sutticiently discussed in treating of the entire region, 

 as by far the larger proportion of them, except in the case of 

 land-shells, are found here. 



Plate XV. Characteristic Neotropical Birds. — To illustrate the 

 ornithology of South America we place our scene on one of the 

 tributaries of the Upper Amazon, a district where this class of 

 animals is the most prominent zoological feature, and where a 

 number of the most remarkable and interesting birds are to be 

 found. On the left we have the umbrella-bird {Cephalopterus 

 ornatns), so called from its wonderful crest, which, when ex- 

 panded, completely overshadows its head like an umbrella. It is 

 also adorned with a long tassel of plumes hanging from its breast, 

 which is formed by a slender fleshy tube clothed with broad 

 feathers. The bird is as large as a crow, of a glossy blue-black 

 colour, and belongs to the same family as the exquisitely tinted 

 blue-and-purple chatterers. Flying towards us are a pair of curl- 

 crested toucans (Ptcroglossus beauharnaisii), distinguished among 

 all other toucans by a crest composed of small black and shining 

 barbless plumes, resembling curled whalebone. The general 

 plumage is green above, yellow and red beneath, like many of its 

 allies. To the right are two of the exquisite little whiskered 

 hummers, or " frill-necked coquettes," as they are called by Mr. 

 Gould, {Lophornis gouldi). These diminutive birds are adorned 

 with green-tipped plumes springing from each side of the throat, 

 as well as with beautiful crests, and are among the most elegant 

 of the great American family of humming-birds, now numbering 

 about 400 known species. Overhead are perched a pair of 

 curassows {Grax glohulosa), which represent in America the 

 pheasants of the Old World. There are about a dozen species 

 of these fine birds, most of whicli are adorned with handsome 

 curled crests. That figured, is distinguished by the yellow car- 

 uncular swellings at the base of the bill. The tall crane-like bird 

 near the water is one ot the trumpeters, (Fsophia leucoptera),e\eg2int 



