CHAP. XVIII.] 



BIRDS. 



2lt7 



Sub-family III. Formicariin.^. — (8 genera, 46 species.) About 

 12 species occur north of Panama, and only 5 south of the Equa- 

 torial district. 



It appears, therefore, that this extensive family is especially 

 characteristic of that part of South America from the Amazon 

 valley northAvards. 



Family 46.— PTEROPTOCHID^. (8 Genera. 19 Species.) 



The Pteroptocliidffi are a group of curious Wren-like birds, 

 almost confined to the temperate regions of South America, 

 extending along the Andes beyond the Equator, and with a few 

 species in South-east Brazil, and one in the valley of the 

 Madeira. The genera are as follows : — 



Scytalopus (8 sp.). Chili and West Patagonia to the Andes of 

 Columbia ; Merulaxis (1 sp.). South-east Brazil ; EJiinocrypta (2 

 sp.). Northern Patagonia and La Plata ; Lioscdis (1 sp.), Madeira 

 valley ; Pteroi^tochxis (2 sp.), Chili ; Hylactcs (3 sp.). Western 

 Patagonia and Chili ; Acropternis (1 sp.), Andes of Ecuador 

 and Columbia ; Triptorliinus (1 sp.). Chili. 



Family 47.— PITTIT)^. (4 Genera, 40 Species.) 



General Distribution. 



Neotropical | Nearctic Pal^arctic EtHiopiAN Oriental I Aostralian 



ScB-REGiONS. Sub-regions. Sub-regions. Sub-regions. Sub-regions. Sub-regions. 



4 



— 2 1.2.3.4 1.2 — 



The Pittas comprise a number of beautifully-coloured Thrush- 

 like birds, which, although confined to the Old World, are more 

 nearly aUied to the South American Pteroptochida than to any 

 other family. They are most aljundunt in the Malay Archipelago, 



