PERCHING-BIRDS. 109 
The numerous genera of the Formicariine ave difficult to define, and 
merge into one another. The larger species have a Thrush-like aspect, 
while the smaller and more delicate forms have more the appearance of 
Warblers and Wrens, and all spend the greater part of their lives on 
the ground, Pithys albifrons (1598) is remarkable for its crested head 
and lengthened throat-feathers. 
The Grallariinw (1606-9) are easily recognised by their long legs and 
short tail. They are entirely terrestrial in their habits, and resemble 
the Pittas in form and the Ground-lhrushes in their style of coloration. 
Family IV. Denprocoraptips. Woov-Hewers. 
The Wood-Hewers form another large and typical South-American 
group, including about 280 species of birds of small size. They are 
dull-coloured, the prevailing tint of the plumage being brown, while 
in a large proportion of the species the tail is uniform chestnut. 
Five subfamilies are recognised, the Dendrocolaptine and Sclerurina 
being characterised by the stiff spiny shafts of the tail-feathers and by 
having the outer toe more or less connected with the middle toe, while 
in the Philydorine, Synallaxiny, and Furnariine the shafts of the tail- 
feathers are soft or not very spinous and the outer toe is free. 
The subfamily Dendrocolaptine includes a number of scansorial 
species resembling Woodpeckers and Tree-creepers in outward appear- 
ance as well as in their habits. Their short legs and large feet armed 
with sharp claws and their stiff spiny tails enable them to run up the 
stems of the tree-trunks in search of insects, and their white eggs are 
deposited in holes. The larger forms, such as Xiphocolaptes major 
(1610), Nasica longirostris (1612), and Dendroplex picus (1621), with 
its straight pointed bill, are very like Woodpeckers ; while \iphorhynchus 
procurvus (1614) and X. irochilirostris (1615), with their long, slender, 
curved bills, are typical of the Creeper-hke forms, and Glyphorhynchus 
cuneatus (1617), with its short, stout, upturned bill, has more the 
appearance of a Nuthatch. 
The second subfamily, Sclerurine, includes half a dozen spiny-tailed 
species of the genus Sclerurus (1618), with somewhat longer legs and 
terrestrial habits. 
Of the Philydorine, which include a number of bush-bunting forms, 
we may call special attention to the “Firewood Gatherer” (Anumbius 
acuticaudatus) (1652), shewn with its nest on the floor of the Case. The 
nest is a bulky structure built of sticks, with an entrance at the top and 
a spiral passage leading down to the nesting-chamber, which is lined 
with grass and usually contains five white eggs. It is generally placed 
on isolated trees, but sometimes, as in the present instance, the cross- 
arms of a telegraph-post are selected as a site, which greatly interferes 
(Case 68. ] 
