ll(i 



VERTEBRATA. 



1^' 





THE BATARA. 



THE MAGPIE SHRIKE. 



beiii!]^ thirteen inches long. The upper parts are black, broadly banded with fulvous ; beneath it 

 is whitish brown. Other species belong to Africa and Asia. 



C'^iMS BETHYLUS : Bethylus. — This includes the Magpie Shrike, ^. /»zVaiMs — Lanius pic- 

 atus of Latham — found in Guiana and Brazil. It resembles the magpie in appearance. 



In Australia, there are three genera of shrikes : those of the Genus FALCUNCULUS, 

 feed on insects, in order to obtain which they strip the bark off the trees with their strong bills. 

 The Falcoxelle, F.frontatus^ is of the size of a sparrow, and in its form and markings resem- 

 bles the great titmouse of Europe. Another Australian species, the Oreoica cristata, is distin- 

 guished for hopping about on the ground, which is rare with other members of this genus. It 

 has a sort of ventriloquial power of voice, commencing a song in a low tone, which seems to come 

 from a great distance ; but it gradually increases in strength, till the listener at last discovers that 

 tlie bird is very near at hand, perhaps immediately over his head. This kind of ventriloquial power, 

 however, by which the hunter is often deceived, is possessed by many other birds. 



THE AMPELIDJE OR CIIATTEREES. 



The Ampelidce embrace several groups, resembling the True Chatterers in certain respects, and 

 hence they are associated with them. For the most part they belong to the warm parts of the 

 world, and live on insects. 



THE PIPRm^ OR MANAKINS. 



This group is composed of numerous beautiful birds, mostly of small size, all of which, except 

 the Calijptomena virldis, found in Sumatra, inhabit the tropical regions of the American continent. 

 They live in small tlocks, in the hot, moist forests which spread over those torrid countries, and 

 feed upon insects and fruits. They are exceedingly active in their movements. 



Genus RUPICOLA : Rupicola. — Of this is the Cock of the Rock, R. aurantia, about the size 

 of a pigeon, and of a fine orange color, with the quills of the wing and tail blackish. It is dis- 

 tinguished by a singular crest of feathers arranged in two planes, rising from the sides of the 

 head so as to meet in the middle, forming a semicircular wedge-like ornament, which projects in 



