THE DIAMOND BIRD. 



359 



the upper parts of the body, and those portions which in the male are pure white, are in 

 the female of a dull wliitish grey. In dimensions the bird is not equal to the spotted Fly- 

 catcher, barely exceeding five inches in total length. 



The singular and beautiful bird which is known by the name of King Tody, or Eoyal 

 Great Crest, is a native of Brazil, antl may (■hallen>;-e competition with niany of the 

 flycatchers for elegance of form and beauty of colouring. 



It is a ver}' rare bird, being seldom brought to England, and to all appearance but little 

 known in its native land. This species is chiefly remarkable for its splendid crest, which 

 is capable of being lowered upon the neck, or raised almost perpendicularly, in which 

 latter position it assumes a spreading and rounded form, like an open fan. The feathers 

 of the crest are long and slender, and spoon-shaped at tlieir extremities. Each feather is 

 bright chestnut-red for the greater part of its length, a narrow stripe of rich orange 



KING TOOV. Musdrom regia. 



succeeds, and the tip is velvet black, encircled by a band of steel-blue. As may be 

 supposed, the efiect of its spread crest is remarkably fine and striking. The upper parts 

 of the body are dark chestnut-brown, rather deeper on the quiH-feathers of the wings. 

 The throat, chest, and abdomen are pale fawn, warming towards chestnut on the central 

 line. The total length of this bird is six inches and a half. 



The family of the Ampelid^, or Chatterers, is one of considerable size, and includes 

 some very beautiful and interesting birds. In all these species the beak is rather broad and 

 short, curved on the upper mandible, and well notched at the tip. The claws are sharp 

 and hooked, and are grooved underneath. The Chatterers are found in all the warm 

 portions of the world, and even our own country is sometimes favoured by a visit from the 

 typical species, the Waxen Chatterer. They are divided into several groups or sub- 

 families, the first of which is the Pachyccphalinre or Thick-heads, so called from the 

 heavy make and great comparative size of their heads. 



Of this group we find an excellent example in the well-known Diamond Bird of 

 Australia. 



This pretty little creature inhabits Van Diemen's Land and the whole of the southern 

 portions of Australia, and is generally found upon trees and bushes, skipping about the 

 1)ranches with the greatest velocity, and peering into every crevice after the insects on 

 which it feeds. It possesses great activity of limb and strength of claw, and is able to 



