FAMILY PIPRIDJS 



crown patch of yellow, remainder of upper parts 

 light gray, darker on rump and shading to black 

 on upper tail coverts ; tail (deeply forked and very 

 long) black with narrow white edgings on the 

 long, outer feathers; cheeks and under parts 

 white. 



Female. Length, 294 mm. (11.75 in.); tail, 

 202 mm. (8.00 in.). Similar to male but tail 

 shorter. 



Common in the winter and early spring months 

 in open places, sometimes in large straggling 

 flocks, not infrequently seen perching on tele- 

 graph poles along the roads and in Panama city, 

 even in the Cathedral Plaza. It is usually quite 

 silent but conspicuous from its graceful flight 

 and motions and extremely elongated and forked 

 tail. 



50. Family PIPRID^E 

 The Manakins 



The manakins are a family of birds very 

 closely related to the flycatchers (Tyran- 

 nidcz) and the cotingas (Cotingidcz) in struc- 

 ture, but differing much from them in 

 appearance and habits. They are stout, 

 with a short bill and short tail, and frequent 

 low jungle and undergrowth. The males 

 are very active and noisy, and generally very 

 brightly and handsomely colored; the fe- 

 males are much quieter in plumage and de- 

 meanor. The family is confined to tropical 

 America, where they are among the most 

 332 



