GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 431 



Of Perching Birds (Passeres) a number of families are peculiar, 

 and of these the following are among the most typical: Manakins 

 (Pipridce), small birds which resemble the Tits in appearance 

 and habits. The large family of Chatterers (Cotingidce), which 

 include the Umbrella- Bird (Cephalopterus ornatus], so named 

 from its large overhanging crest of feathers, and the clear-toned 

 Bell -Bird (Chasmorhynchus). The Tree-Creepers or Picucules 

 (Dendrocolaptidce) vary remarkably in appearance and in the 

 nature of their nests (see vol. iii, p. 463), while some of the 

 insectivorous Ant -Thrushes (FormicariicUe] give notice by their 

 twittering of the approach of armies of Foraging Ants (Ecitons). 

 We have also the American " Orioles " (IctericUe), among which 

 are the Cow- Birds (Molobrus), some of which, like Cuckoos, lay 

 their eggs in the nests of other species (see p. 186). The true 

 4 'singing birds" (O seines) of the Old World are comparatively 

 ill represented in this region, the feathered inhabitants of which 

 appeal more to the eye than the ear. Thrushes, however, are 

 abundant. 



Among Picarian Birds (Picariai) the brilliantly coloured large- 

 billed Toucans {Rhamphastidce) constitute a family peculiar to the 

 region. A well-known and remarkable family common to South 

 and North America is that of the Humming-Birds (TrochilidcE), 

 which for beauty of form and plumage have few serious rivals. 

 Though they range as far north as Alaska, their head-quarters 

 are in the Neotropical region, which is the home of some 400 

 species, about four-fifths of the total number. 



Of Parrots (Psittaci) there are a number of genera not 

 represented elsewhere, and the gorgeous long -tailed Macaws 

 (Conurida) make up a family widely distributed through the 

 region, though also ranging into the Nearctic area. 



Among true Game -Birds (Gallince) the large and handsome 

 Curassows and their allies, which are related to the Mound- 

 Builders of the Australian region, constitute a family (Cracida) 

 which is almost entirely neotropical. The remarkable Hoatzin 

 (Opisthocomus cristatus\ native to the northern part of South 

 America (see vol. iii, p. 472), may perhaps be regarded as an 

 aberrant game-bird, but it possesses so many structural pecu- 

 liarities that it is placed in a distinct family (Opisthocomida), 

 while some authorities even consider that it is entitled to an 

 order (Opisthocomi] of its own. 



