20 ANT-THRUSH 
him except Phenicopterus (FLAMINGO) and Lecurvirostra {AVOSET). 
If the term be used at the present day, it must be limited to the 
Geese and their allies. 
ANT-THRUSH, Latham’s rendering in 1783 (Gen. Synops. ii. 
p. 87) of Buffon’s Fourmilier proprement dit (Hist. Nat. Ois. iv. 
p. 473), a bird figured by Daubenton (Pl. enl. 700, fig. 1) as the 
Fourmillier de Cayenne, the Formicarius torquatus of Boddaert in 1783, 
the Turdus formicarius of Gmelin in 1788, and the Lhopotrope 
torquata of modern systematists ; for, though it should be logically 
recognized as the type of the genus Mormicarius, Prof. Cabanis in 
1847 (Orn. Notiz. p. 227), misled probably by G. R. Gray, removed 
it to one of his own making. This little bird, not so big as a 
Skylark, is very beautiful, notwithstanding its curious figure, with 
a disproportionately long bill, short tail, and strong legs, and 
- absence of bright coloration, for the black, rich brown, sienna, buff, 
grey and white which its plumage presents, are most. harmoniously 
contrasted or blended. It is a native of the northern parts of 
South America, and Buffon received it from Cayenne through 
Manoncour, the little we know of its habits being due to the latter. 
It is a mark of Buffon’s insight that he at once recognized in this 
species, and several others allied to it, obtained from the same 
source, a perfectly distinct group of birds which he designated 
Fourmiliers from their feeding (as he was told) chiefly on Ants.? 
The systematists of his day, Boddaert and Hermann excepted, were 
not so perceptive, and referred these birds to the Thrushes or some 
of them to the Shrikes. Their distinctness was at last recognized, 
and they were duly regarded as forming a Family, Formicaridz, 
which is now known to contain more than 250 species, and by 
Mr. Sclater (Cat. B. Br. Mus. xv. pp. 176-328) in 1890 has been 
divided into 3 subfamilies — Zhamnophiline, often known as 
“ Bush-Shrikes,” containing 10 genera and at least 80 species ; 
Formicariine, the true Ant-Thrushes, including in them the 
Formicivorine, by Swainson? called “ Ant-Wrens” (Zool. Journ. ii. 
p. 146), that Mr. Sclater had formerly (P. Z. S. 1858, pp. 
232-254) recognized, and thus enlarging the Formicariine so as to 
comprise 18 genera and more than 130 species; while the third 
subfamily Grallariine includes 5 genera and over 30 species. In 
1 Mr. Bates (Nat. Amazon, ii. p. 857) says that the first signal given to the 
pedestrian of meeting with a train of Foraging Ants (Zciton) is the twittering 
and restless movement of small flocks of Ant-Thrushes in the forest, and that if 
he disregards their warning he is sure to be attacked by the ferocious insects. 
2 Swainson did not know that his genus Formicivora had been anticipated by 
Temminck, who in 1807 (Cat. du Cab. p. 92) used the name Formicivorus, in a 
sense equivalent to Boddaert’s Formicarius. The group separated by Swainson was 
in 1827 called by Gloger Zriodora, which name therefore apparently ought to be 
used for it. 
