534 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



Zoological Gardens, his clear ringing note was mistaken by one of the officials for 

 the sound of a blacksmith ringing on an anvil, and inquiry was made by him as to 

 the work that was going on." The adult male of the naked-throated bell-bird has 

 the plumage pure white throughout, the space round the eyes and throat being- 

 covered with a naked skin, only sparingly invested with minute black feathers, 

 which becomes of a fine green in the breeding-season. The female has a blackish 

 head, and the upper-parts dull green ; beneath, yellowish, varied with green. 



The cotingas are a group of chatterers, distinguished from their 



near allies, the bell-birds, by the brilliancy of the coloration of the 



males. The type has the bill depressed, broad at the base, and narrowed towards 



the extremity, the upper mandible slightly arched ; the wings being of moderate 





COMMON MANAKIN (£ liat. size). 



size and pointed ; the metatarsus short, and the toes stout, and furnished with fine 

 claws. The cotingas inhabit the forests of Southern Brazil. The banded cotinga 

 (Cotinga cincta) is a bird of solitary habits, keeping to the topmost branches of 

 trees, and generally residing in a dense forest, though at times it approaches the 

 cultivated grounds in search of food. It feeds upon a variety of fruits, which its 

 wide gape enables it to swallow with ease. The adult male has the upper-parts 

 and the band across the breast full ultramarine blue, while the under-parts are of 

 a deep plum-colour. 



These birds (Pipra) are of gay appearance, generally exhibiting 

 rich tints of blue, crimson, scarlet, orange, or yellow in combination with 

 chestnut, deep black, black-and-white, or olive-green ; and among their most obvious 

 characteristics are their short bill and feeble feet, of which latter the fourth toe is 

 united to the third toe for a good part of its length. Some few are crested ; and the 

 tail is very short in the majority of species, but in others the central feathers are much 



Manakins. 



