53 2 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



unique feature among the chatterers. The fourth species is, however, characterised 

 by a brown head and black wings; although white predominates in its plumage. 

 The bell-birds possess a moderately-curved bill, broad at the base and deeply cleft ; 

 the wings extending to the end of the upper tail-coverts, the metatarsus being 

 strong and scutellated, and the toes short and strong. The variegated bell-bird 

 is found in Venezuela, while the snow-white bell-bird inhabits the forests of 

 Surinam, Cayenne, and Demerara, and the naked-throated bell-bird is found in 

 Brazil. Dr. Sclater gives the following account of the naked-throated bell-bird 

 (C. nudicollis), which is figured in our engraving : " This bell-bird was first 



NAKED-THROATED BELL-BIRD (f liat. size). 



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 Maximilian 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 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, during their expeditions in the neighbour- 

 hood of Rio cle Janeiro, became well acquainted with its singular notes some time 



