THE CHATTERERS 



1709 



gives the following account of the naked-throated bell bird (C. nudicollis), which is 

 figured in our engraving: "This bell bird was first made known to science by the 

 French naturalist Viellot, in 1815, from specimens in the collection of the Jardin 

 des Plantes at Paris. But the best and in fact only good account of it in a state of 

 nature is that given by that excellent and observing naturalist, Prince Maximilian 

 of Neuwied, in his Contributions to the Natural History of Brazil. Prince Maxi- 

 milian tells us that this remarkable bird is one of the most singular features in the 

 fauna of the wooded coast region of Brazil, and attracts the stranger's notice as well 



BANDED COTINGA. 



(Two-thirds natural size.) 



by its brilliant white plumage as by its clear ringing voice. It seems to be very 

 generally distributed through the woods, resorting especially to the thickest and 

 most secluded parts of them. Hence it resulted that the prince and his party, dur- 

 ing their expeditions in the neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, became well acquainted 

 with its singular notes some time before they obtained specimens of the producer of 

 them. Prince Maximilian describes these notes as resembling the sound of a clear- 

 ringing bell, sometimes repeated at intervals, sometimes following each other in 

 quick succession. In the latter case they are more like the sound produced by a 

 blacksmith when he strikes a piece of steel upon an anvil, whence the bird has 



