7^ ** ^ 



SHOET-TAILED AKT THRUSH.— 2'i«a Bengateiisis. 



These Ijivds mnj' be separated into two divisions, the Breves and the Ant-thrushes ; the 

 former being found in India, the Indian Islands, and Australia, while the latter inhabit 

 America as weU as the Old World. 



In whatever part of the world they may be situated, they are most nseful birds, 

 as without their assistance the ants which swarm in those lands would increase to a most 

 baneful extent. In allusion to this subject ]\Ir. Swainson makes the follov^ang pertinent 

 remarks : " Of all the tribes of insects which swarm in the tropics, the ants are the most 

 numerous ; they are the universal desolators, and in the dry and overgrown parts of the 

 interior, the traveller can scarcely proceed five paces without treading upon their nests. 

 To keejj these myriads within due limits, a wise Providence has ordered into existence 

 the Ant-thrushes, and given to them this particular food. Both are proportionate in their 

 geographical range, as far beyond the tropical latitudes the ants suddenly decrease, and 

 their enemies, the Myiotheriaj {i. e. the ant-eating creatures) totally disappear." 



It must, however, be remembered, that the ants themselves are of the very greatest 

 service in removing and devouring all dead animal substances, and that the great object 

 of the Ant-Thrush is not to extirpate, but to keep within due bounds the insects which 

 might otherwise become absolutely harmful to the bird which is so greatly benefited by 

 their joresence in moderate numbers. 



The great Ant-Thkush, which is also called the Giant Pitta, or the Giant Breve, in 

 allusion to its large dimensions, is a native of Surinam, and on account of its bright 

 plumage, its quaint and peculiar shape, its very large head, very long legs, and jieculiarly 

 short wren-like tail, which looks exactly as if it had been neatly cropped, is one of the 

 most singular birds of that prolific locality. In size it equals an English rook, but hardly 

 looks so large as that well-known bird, on account of the short tail, which is entirely 

 covered by the wings when they are closed. The general colour of this brilliant bird is a 

 light cobalt blue, which extends o-\-er tlie whole of the back and tail, Init is not quite so 

 lustrous upon the wings. The quill-feathers of the wings are black, tij)ped with sky-blue, 

 and the head, the surface of the neck, together with a stripe that runs partly round the 



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