360 



THE GOLDEN-WINGED MANAKIN. 



traverse the boughs while hanging suspended beneath them by its feet. It is not restricted 

 to any particular tree, but may be seen on the hard scrubby bushes as often as upon the 

 lofty trees. The voice of the Diamond Bird is rather harsh and piping, and consists 

 of two notes constantly repeated, from which circumstance the natives call it by the name 

 of " "We-deep, we-deep." 



The most remarkable peculiarity in this bird is its nest and the position which it 

 chooses for its home. Instead of placing' its nest among the branches, or even in the 

 hollow of one of the innumerable decaying trees that abound in its native country, the 

 Diamond Bird makes a deep burrow in the face of some bank, usually on the margin of a 

 stream, and builds its nest at the extremity of the hole. The tunnel slopes slightly upwards, 

 and is about two or three feet in length, the nest being placed in a chamber at its extremity. 

 Contrary to the usual custom of bun-owing birds, the Diamond Bird builds a most neat and 

 elaborately constructed nest in its burrow the marvel being increased by the evident 



difficulty of working in the dark. 

 The structure is almost globular 

 in form, and is entered by means 

 of a hole left in the side. The 

 materials of which it is composed 

 are principally strips of the inner 

 gum-tree bark, and it is lined 

 with finer portions of the same 

 substance. 



The Diamond Bird is a pretty 

 little creature, and decorated with 

 most vivacious colouring. The 

 crown of the head, the wings and 

 the tail are black, speckled with 

 pure white, each feather having 

 a snowy white spot at its extre- 

 mity. A white streak begins at the 

 nostrils, crosses the face, and 

 passes over each eye. The back is 

 curiously diversified with several 

 harmonising tints, each feather 

 being grey at its base, and having 



DIAMOND BIRD - 



punci&tut 



at its extremity a triangular 

 spot of fawn edged with black. 

 The upper tail-coverts are ruddy 



brown, becoming redder towards the tail ; the chin, throat, and chest are bright golden 

 orange, and the abdomen is tawny. The female has a browner head, and no golden orange 

 streak on the breast. The bird is about as large as a wren. 



The Manakins, or Piprinae, form a moderately large group of birds, many of which 

 are of very beautiful and curious plumage. With very few exceptions they are inhabitants 

 of America, and are found only in the hottest portions of the tropical regions of that vast 

 country. They feed indiscriminately on animal and vegetable substances, are very active 

 in their movements, and frequent the hottest and moistest forests, where vegetation grows 

 most luxuriantly, as in such situations they find the greatest abundance of food. 



One very beautiful species is the GOLDEN-WINGED MANAKIN of America. This bird is 

 always to be found on the skirts of forests, where it chooses the hot and marshy grounds 

 that are often formed in such localities, and there plies its busy search for food, unharmed 

 by the noxious and miasmatic exhalations of the decaying vegetation that are continually 

 steaming upwards, whilst the burning rays of the tropical sun convert the moisture into 

 vapour, and cover the earth with a heavy, warm, and poisonous mist. The bird is remark- 

 ably vivacious in its movements, and may often be seen on the ground, peering and feeding 

 in evciy direction, or perched in large flocks on the top of some lofty tree. 



