FINCHES. 



545 



In tropical South America the hang-nests reach their highest development, and 

 here we encounter the large species of Cassicus, Ostinops, etc., all expert nest-build- 

 ers, as shown in the accompanying cut. Mr. Bates, in the narrative of his travels on 

 the river Amazon, has the following note on one of these : " Another interesting and 

 common bird was the japim, a species of Cassicus (C. icteronotus). It is social in 

 its habits, and builds its nest, like the English rook, on trees in the neighborhood of 

 habitations. But the nests are quite differently constructed, being shaped like purses, 

 two feet in length, and suspended from the slender branches all round the tree, some 

 of them very near the ground. The entrance is on the side, near the bottom of the 



FIG. 272. Smberita hvrtulana, ortolan ; Granativora melanocephala, black-headed bunting. 



nest. The bird is a great favorite with the Brazilians of Para. It is a noisy, stirring, 

 babbling creature, passing constantly to and fro, chattering to its comrades, and is 

 very ready at imitating other birds, especially the domestic poultry of the vicinity." 

 Here also belongs the troupial (Icterus icterus), celebrated for its exquisite song, 

 which is considered even considerably superior to the mellow whistle of our familiar 

 Baltimore oriole (I. galbuld). 



It is very singular to find that the cowbirds (Molothrus) have developed the same 

 curious parasitic habits as the Old World cuckoos, depositing, as they do, their eggs 

 in other birds' nests, to have them incubated and the young ones reared by the indus- 

 try and devotion of deceived foster-parents. 



As the family FRINGILLID.E is now limited, it is one of the richest in species, com- 

 VOL. iv. 35 



