FINCHES. 



545 



In tropical Soiitli Ainurioa the hang-ncsts reach their highest clevclopraent, and 

 liere we eiicouiiter the large species of Casgicus. Ostinojis, etc., all expert iiest-lmild- 

 ers, as shown in the aceonii)anying cut. Mr. liates, in the narrative of his travels on 

 the river Amazon, has the following note on one of these : " Another interesting and 

 common I>ird was tiie japini, a species of Uassicus (C icteronotus). It is social in 

 its habits, and Imilds its nest, like the Englisli rook, on trees in the neiglihoriiood of 

 habitations. But the nests are quite differently constructed, being shaped like purses, 

 two feet in length, and suspended from the slender branches all round the tree, some 

 of tlicm very near the gniund. Tlie entrance is on the side, near tlie bottom t^f the 





Fio. ■i'.l.—Emberiza hortulana, ortolan ; Granativora melanocephala, black-headed bunting. 



nest. The bird is a great favorite with the Brazilians of Para. It is a noisy, stirring, 

 babbling creature, passing constantly to and fro, chattering to its comrades, and is 

 very ready at imitating other l)irds, especially the domestic poultry of the vicinity." 

 Here also Ijelongs the troujiial {Icterus icterus), celebrated for its exquisite song, 

 wliich is considered even considerably superior to the mellow whistle of our familiar 

 Baltimore oriole (/. f/itlbuln). 



It is very singular to find tliat the cowbirds {Mokillinis) have developed the same 

 curious parasitic habits as the Old World cuckoos, depositing, as they do, their eggs 

 in other liirds' nests, to have them incubated and the young ones reared by the indus- 

 try and devotion of deceived foster-parents. 



As the family FuiNGiLLiDJi is now limited, it is one of the richest in species, com- 



VOL. IV. — 3o 



