8 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.—CLASS II. AVES. 
roofed; was of a large size, formed outwardly of sticks, and lined with the 
inner bark of trees and fibrous roots.” 
Fasaty Ertoporipz. Bush Surmes anp Ant TrrreusHes. 
In this group are included three sub-families, characterized as follows :— 
ERIODORID_E. 5 covered with scutelle. Bill § highand stout, like that of Lanius. THAMNOPHILINUE. 
Outer side of tarsus : weak, like that of Turdus. . 2. MYIOrH Rin as. 
covered with an entire plate... ..... BP ne Pe Tarn Hy POoCNEMIDINA, 
The Thamnophiline, or Bush Shrikes, are found on both continents. 
Gray says of the typical genus Thamnophilus, — 
“Most of these birds are inhabitants of the tropical parts of America. 
They usually reside in the vast forests, seeking the foliage of the low bushes 
and the trunks of trees for the insects on which they subsist. The nests 
are usually placed in the thick bushes, at no great distance from the ground ; 
the exterior is attached by strong filaments to the boughs, which form a fork 
at the extremity of a slender branch; the interior is furnished with hairs 
and delicate stems of plants. Some species compose it of a series of small, 
spinous branches, slightly put together. The eggs are from two to five in 
number.” 
The Ant Thrushes (Mytother‘nw) are a singular group of birds. By 
some authors, they are made a sub-family of the Porndécarine, while others 
place them in the Turdide. The following account of these birds, and their 
nearly-allied species, will give a good idea of their characteristics : — 
“Under the name of My/otheree, Uliger and Cuvier have united several 
genera, composing the Greves of Buffon, and the Ant Thrushes, properly so 
called. The Breves are remarkable for the vivid and strongly-contrasted 
hues of their plumage, for the length of the legs, and the shortness of the 
semi-erect tail. They are only found in India and the adjacent islands, and 
Australia, whilst the Ant Thrushes belong to the New World as well as the 
Old. The Breves have the gradually-curved bill of the true thrushes, but 
much stronger; the wings are short, and the powers of flight feeble. The 
predominant color is metallic green, variegated with azure blue, scarlet, and 
black ; and some species, with a hood of the latter tint, appear to be confined 
to Australia and the neighboring islands of the Indian Seas. The Ant 
Thrushes, principally confined to tropical America, represent the Breves in 
that portion of the world, but differ from those splendid birds in having a 
more abruptly-hooked bill and more soberly-colored plumage.” 
The utility of the Ant Thrushes, in their native localities, is thus com- 
mented upon by Mr. Swainson ; — 
“Of all the-tribe of insects which swarm in the tropics, the ants are the 
most numerous; they are the universal devastators, and in the dry and over- 
