PRIONOPS TALACOMA. 



horny shell ; the middle toe rather longer than the outermost, the innermost 

 slightly shorter than the latter, and of the same length as the hindermost ; 

 claws pointed and considerably curved. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Inches. Lines, 



Length of tarsus 1 1 



of the middle toe (> 



Inches. Lines. 

 Length from the bill to the top of the 



tail 8 



of the tail 3 9 



of the wings when folded 4 4 



The female, as regards the colour of the plumage and the size, differs little 

 if at all from the male. 



The first individuals of this species we obtained were killed in about 25° south latitude, and 

 from that parallel specimens continued to occur as far as we advanced to the northward. They 

 were generally obseiTcd among low bushes, iu flocks of six or eight individuals, and either 

 actively engaged in traversing those bushes, or in exploring the grounds around them in search 

 of insects. The termites appeared to form their favorite food ; and rarely was a specimen 

 obtained whose stomach did not contain them in abundance. It is a shy bird, and rather 

 noisy. In flying, sometimes all the individuals of the little flock utter their cries simultaneously, 

 and the same practice they frequently observe while searching for food on the ground, or upon 

 bushes. When the mere inclination of one of the flock induces it to fly, all the rest follow 

 the example, and together, wing their way to another locality. The present, the third 

 species yet discovered of the genus, is readily to be distinguished from the other two, 

 {Prionops Geojfroyi, Vieillot ; and Prionops cristatus, Ruppell), by its having no crest. 



