THE BELL 13IRI). 



117 



brown. In some these ai'e disposed in a confluent crown around the larger end ; in others they are 

 irregularly distributed over the entire egg. In length they vary from 1*05 to -86 of an inch, and in 

 breadth from '72 to -70 cf an inch." 



THE SEVENTH FAMILY OF THE MESOMYODI, OR SOXGLESS BIRDS. 



THE AMERICAN CHATTERERS (Cotingidce}. 



To this family belong nearly a hundred species of birds, mostly of gay plumage, which are found 

 in the New World. Some of the most interesting are the brilliantly coloured Cotingas, or Chatterers 



COCK OF THE KOCK. 



of South America, in which the plumage is of a mingled blue and crimson; but there are also in this 

 family equally familiar birds, such as the Cocks of the Rock, the Umbrella- birds, and the Bell-birds. 

 The habits of the common Bell-bird are described by Mr. Waterton in his " Wanderings." Speaking 

 of the several Cotingas of the country under notice, he says : " The fifth species is the celebrated 

 'Campanero' of the Spaniards, called 'Dara' by the Indians, and 'Bell-bird' by the English. 

 He is about the size of the Jay. His plumage is white as snow. On his forehead rises a spiral 

 tube nearly three inches long. It is jet-black, dotted all over with small white feathers. It. has a 

 communication with the palate, and when filled with air it looks like a spire ; when empty it becomes 

 pendulous. His note is loud and clear, like the sound of a bell, and may be heard at the distance of 

 three miles. In the midst of these extensive wilds, generally on the dried top of an ancient wood, 

 almost out of your reach, you will see the Campanero. No sound or song from any of the winged 

 inhabitants of the forest, not even the clearly pronounced ' Whip-poor-will ' from the Goatsucker, 

 causes such astonishment as the toll of the Campanero. With many of the feathered race he pays the 

 common tribute of a morning and evening song ; and even when the meridian sun has shut in silence 

 158 



