112 



THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



with a scarlet patch on the abdomen. This and one 

 or two others have been kept in captivity in England 

 and elsewhere. 



The Plant-cutters (PhytotomincB) of South America 

 are vegetable-feeding birds much resembling Finches, 

 but with the edges of the bill toothed and the back of 

 the shank separately scaled with many small scales. 

 They are very destructive to vegetation, and build open 



Outline of Pitta. 



nests in bushes. The males are reddish in colour and 

 the females greyish. 



Scrub-birds {Atyichiince) are small Australian birds, 

 with rather long tails and very short wings ; their 

 shanks have separate scales on the back, by which 

 they are separated from any other Passerine birds of 

 similar shape found in Australia. There are only two 

 species, brown in colour, and of insectivorous habits, 

 haunting thick cover and seldom flying. 



