| Case 68, 
Case 68. 
Case 68.) 
_ 
108 BIRD GALLERY. 
Family I. Preroprocuivs. Tapraco.as. 
These small Wren-like birds, characterised by their large robust feet 
with straight claws, range from Costa Rica through South America to 
Patagonia and the Falkland Islands, and occur up to an altitude of 
9000 or 10,000 feet. They are shy and retiring in their habits, hiding 
themselves in thick cover, where they hop actively from bough to bough, 
or run like mice on the ground, the tail being carried in an elevated 
position, which adds to their general Wren-like appearance. Little is 
known of their nesting-habits, but in some forms the nest is made of grass 
or moss and placed near the ground, while others, such as P/eroptochus 
(1570) and Hylactes (1571-2), are reported to nest in burrows. 
Rather more than twenty species are recognised and grouped into 
eight genera, some of which will be found represented in the Case. 
Family II. Conorornacipx. CoNnororHacas. 
About a dozen species, all found in South America, comprise this 
family. The species of Conopophaga (1611) and Corythopsis (1578), the 
two genera recognised, are very imperfectly known, and nothing appears 
to have been recorded concerning their habits. 
Family II]. FPormrceantipa. Anv-Birps. 
This large and characteristic South-American group .of about 260 
species is chiefly confined to the tropical forests of the north, ranging 
thence in diminishing numbers to Central America, Chile,and Argentina. 
They are mostly birds of very retired habits, creeping silently about 
among the lower branches or searching for insects and their larve on the 
ground in the densest and thorniest thickets. Though commonly known 
as *‘ Ant ”’-birds, it is now believed that they do not feed on them, but 
on the insects driven up by the swarms of foraging ants. 
The nesting-habits ave very imperfectly known, but some build on 
or near the ground and lay white or variously coloured spotted eggs. 
The species vary greatly in outward appearance, and are divided into 
three subfamilies, viz :—Thamnophiline, or Ant-Shrikes, which have 
the strong hooked bill toothed at the extremity, and greatly resemble 
the true Shrikes (Lanius ete.) both im appearance and habits ; Formi- 
cariinw, which recall Thrushes and Warblers; and the long-legged 
Grallariine, which look like the Pittas except in coloration. 
Among the more notable forms of the Thamnophilinn we may call 
attention to the giant of the group, Batara cinerea (1580), with its 
formidable hooked bill, no doubt used for the destruction of smaller 
birds as well as large insects, and Neoclantes niger aid Clytoctantes alixi, 
two abnormal types with curious upturned bills. 
