of the Family of Laniadcs. 555 



cularly in some thickly wooded districts, which are only now 

 becoming pervious, and into which no Naturalist has hitherto 

 penetrated, I have met with a variety of birds, which I ap- 

 prehend to be both new and interesting. Among others some 

 species o( Laniadce, which I shall here describe, come from a situa- 

 tion, the character of which is extremely conducive to the occa- 

 sional assemblage during part of the year, of great numbers of the 

 feathered creation from the neighbouring parts ; while it also 

 affords a constant shelter to many birds whose habits are more 

 congenial with the character of its deep and umbrageous recesses. 

 The situation to which I allude is that broad mountainous belt 

 which forms the skirt of the table land of Brazil, at that part, 

 where it rises from the low plains of Goaytacazes to the elevated 

 surface of the Province of Minas Geraes. Here the scattered 

 patches of wood growing in the moist hollows which are produced 

 by the undulating surface of the extensive downs, afford but little 

 shelter to the birds of more retired habits, although sufficient for 

 others whose bolder character leads them to the neighbourhood of 

 man, or whose formation is suited to flat or marshy localities. At 

 one season of the year, however, when many of the numerous lakes 

 become wholly dried up, the brooks diminished to trifling springs, 

 and the shrubs exhausted of their berries, numerous families of 

 birds, particularly those of the order Grallaiores, make their way 

 from the plains to the thick forests which cover the mountainous 

 belt before mentioned ; while others less timid draw nearer to the 

 habitation of man, and plunder the gardens and orchards for their 

 daily support. In a similar manner, many of the feathered tribes 

 of the lower plains visit the same coverts, seeking a variety of 

 berries, of which there is a constant supply even in the dry season, 

 in consequence of the nature of the soil, which is kept continually 

 moist by the mountain springs. These periodical accessions in- 

 crease for a time the number and variety of the animal inhabitants 

 of the wooded vallies, which arc situated among the mountains 

 that rise in sucessive ranges to the edge of the table land. 



The commencemnt, however, of the rains causes the return of 

 such species as have the more open lands for their usual resort ; 



