108 BIRD GALLERY. 



Family I. PTEROPTOCHID^E. TAPACOLAS. 



rr 68 1 These small Wren-like birds, characterised by their large robust feet 

 with straight claws, range from Costa Rica through South America to 

 Patagonia and the Falkland Islands, and occur up to an altitude of 

 9000 or 10,000 feet. They are shy and retiring in their habits, hiding 

 themselves in thick cover, where they hop actively from bough to bough, 

 or run like mice on the ground, the tail being carried in an elevated 

 position, which adds to their general Wren-like appearance. Little is 

 known of their nesting-habits, but in some forms the nest is made of grass 

 or moss and placed near the ground, while others, such as Pteroptochus 

 (1570) and Hylactes (1671-2), are reported to nest in burrows. 



Rather more than twenty species are recognised and grouped into 

 eight genera, some of which will be found represented in the Case. 



Family II. CONOPOPHAGID^E. CONOPOPHAGAS. 



PP 6g -, About a dozen species, all found in South America, comprise this 

 family. The species of Conopophaga (1577) and Corythopsis (1578), the 

 two genera recognised, are very imperfectly known, and nothing appears 

 to have been recorded concerning their habits. 



Family III. FORMICARIID^E. ANT-BIRDS. 



[Case 68.1 This large and characteristic South-American group of about 260 

 species is chiefly confined to the tropical forests of the north, ranging 

 thence in diminishing numbers to Central America, Chile, and Argentina. 

 They are mostly birds of very retired habits, creeping silently about 

 among the lower branches or searching for insects and their larvae on the 

 ground in the densest and thorniest thickets. Though commonly known 

 as u Ant "-birds, it is now believed that they do not feed on ants, but 

 on the insects driven up by the swarms of foraging ants. 



The nesting-habits are very imperfectly known, but some build on 

 or near the ground and lay white or variously coloured spotted eggs. 



The species vary greatly in outward appearance, and are divided into 

 three subfamilies, viz.: Thamnophilina, or Ant-Shrikes, which have 

 the strong hooked bill toothed at the extremity, and greatly resemble 

 the true Shrikes (Lanius, etc.) both in appearance and habits ; Formi- 

 cariince, which recall Thrushes and Warblers; and the long-legged 

 GrallariincK, which look like the Pittas except in coloration. 



Among the more notable forms of the Thamnophilince we may call 

 attention to the giant of the group, Batara cinerea (1580), with its 

 formidable hooked bill, no doubt used for the destruction of smaller 

 birds as well as large insects, and Neodantes niger and Clytoetantes alixi, 

 two abnormal types with curious upturned bills. 



