CHILIAN PLANT-CUTTER. Phytdtoma rara. 



might be the effect of particular food, which is known to exercise such an influence on 

 other birds ; but whether having once assumed light tints, they ever in a wild and healthy 

 state go back to olive brown or more dull colours, has not, I believe, been ascertained." 



The young birds are dark green covered with horizontal dashes of black. They 

 afterwards assume their yearling plumage, which is a general dull brown, greyish white 

 on the head, and with the under surface of the body liberally streaked with a darker tint. 

 The female is of a green-yellow, with a dash of brown on the top of the head and the 

 upper surface of the body, changing into a purer yellow on the upper tail-coverts. 



The total length of the male bird is rather more than six inches, and the female 

 frequently reaches seven inches in length. 



THE PLANT-GUTTERS derive their name from their habit of seizing the plants on which 

 they feed, and nipping their stems asunder with their sharp bills as neatly as if they had 

 been cut with shears. They are all of moderate size, about equalling the bullfinch in 

 dimensions. In order to enable them to obtain their food, their beaks are very sharp and 

 slightly notched. 



The CHILIAN PLANT-CUTTER is rather a large species, being equal to a thrush in 

 dimensions. It is a common bird in its native country, and is most destructive to the 

 crops. It is very fond of sprouting corn, and, not content with eating the green blades, it 

 seems to find such pleasure in the exercise of its bill, that it cuts down hundreds of stalks 

 as if in mere wantonness, and leaves the green stems lying strewed about the ground. 

 On account of these destructive propensities, it is greatly persecuted by the agriculturists, 

 who shoot it and trap it, and further aid in its extermination by setting a price on its 

 head, and giving a certain sum to every one who will bring in a dead bird. 



The nest is made on the summit of a lofty tree in some very retired situation, so that 

 in spite of all the persecution with which it meets, it still holds its ground against the 

 farmers. In colour it is sober ; the usual tints being grey, with a bronzo tinge on the 

 back, and somewhat of a slaty hue upon the breast and abdomen. The quill-feathers of 

 the wing and tail are black. Its voice is rather harsh, and consists of a series of rough 

 broken notes. 



2. K K 



