114 NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE FOURTH FAMILY OF THE MESOMYODI, OR SONGLESS BIRDS. 



THE AMERICAN ANT-THRUSHES (Formicariidce). 



As in the case of so many other Mesomyodian birds, the Formicariidce are entirely inhabitants 

 of the New World. About two hundred and twenty species are known to science, and these are 

 arranged in two sub-families, the first of which, the Thamnophilince, contains the birds which are 

 popularly known as American Bush Shrikes. These have an aspect very similar to the Bush-Shrikes 

 (Dryoscopus) of Africa, while in their habits they also resemble the Butcher-birds of the Old World. 

 M. D'Orbigny writes: "They are, in America, the representatives of our Shrikes, with this important 

 difference in their habits, that instead of invariably perching on bushes, they are found always in the 

 interior, and rarely appear outside. They are bush-birds par excellence, all living to the east of the 

 Andes ; at least we do not know of any which has been brought from the west of that great chain. 

 They live in all the localities where dense thickets are to be found, either in the hedges near houses 

 or in the deserted clearings in the heart of the forest, or else in the stunted thickets, bristling with 

 thorns, which are called chaparrales by the Spaniards, and which are characteristic of certain parts 

 of Central South America. They go as a rule either alone or in couples, and the most familiar of 

 them approach inhabited places, springing from branch to branch at the bottom of the bushes, which 

 they scour in search of insects and their larvae, and ants. They very rarely descend to the earth, and 

 then only for the purpose of seizing their prey, which they afterwards proceed to devour on the lowest 

 branches of the thicket. They appeared to us resident in the countries of which they were natives, 

 but always going from one place to another. What traveller in the heart of these wild situations 

 so common in America has not been struck, especially in spring-time, by the vociferous songs of 

 the Bush Shrikes, and with the noisy gamut that the males give out, especially at the season 

 of love 1 Their whole frame trembles with happiness ; their crest raises itself ; they open their 

 wings, and show every sign of pleasure, whilst the female hastens to reply to their transports, but 

 in accents less pronounced. These conversations often strike the ear, but one may search in vain for 

 the performer, the birds being almost always hidden in thickets so dense that the rays of the sun 

 scarcely penetrate them. It is in such places as these that they even deposit their nest at some 

 feet above the ground. It is made of twigs outside, and sometimes lined with hair inside. Their eggs 

 very much resemble those of our Shrikes, in that they are often whitish, spotted with reddish- violet." 



THE FIFTH FAMILY OF THE MESOMYODI, OR SONGLESS BIRDS. 



THE OLD WORLD ANT-THRUSHES (Pittida). 



The members of this family, which represent in the Old World the Ant-Thrushes mentioned in 

 the preceding family, are, unlike the latter, birds of very striking and brilliant plumage. From 

 Australia, throughout the Molucca Islands, they range through the Malayan Peninsula and Burmese 

 countries into China, several species inhabiting the Himalayan Mountains, while one is common to the 

 Indian peninsula and in Ceylon. The genus then disappears from the intervening countries, but is 

 once more represented by the Angola Pitta (Pitta angolensis) in West Africa ; this species, however, 

 appears merely to inhabit the coast line. Most of the Pittas appear to be migratory. They 

 nest on the ground, or on low branches close to the ground. Of the habits of the Blue-winged 

 Pitta an excellent account has appeared from the pen of Mr. W. Davidson:* "For many months 

 after my arrival in Burmah I did not meet with this species ; but while at Tavoy, towards the 

 latter end of April, after a few good showers of rain, they suddenly appeared in great numbers 

 in the gardens and plantations in and about Tavoy. Before the rain, I can safely affirm that 

 there were none about the place, for day after day for the greater part of the month had I been 

 working the country in which they subsequently became so numerous. From this time till I left 

 Burmah, in July, they were numerous everywhere. Subsequently I have, year by year, noticed the 

 annual emigration throughout the southern and central portions of the province. Very likely they 

 extend to the north, but I have never been there at the right season. I suspect, however, that they 

 are rather a coast-loving species. Although the great mass of the birds come as described, a few, I 

 think, remain all the year round in. the mangrove swamps of the southern extremity of the province ; 

 at any rate, I have found them there from January to July. This species is very fond of perching 



* "Stray Feathers, "1878- 



