THE SINGING BIRDS. 



161 



The nest, which is large, thick, and ball-shaped, is artistically constructed of moss, leaves, grass, 

 and feathers, and is entered by a small round aperture in the sides. The eggs, three or four in 

 number, have a pale greenish shell, marked with a few black and greenish blue spots, which are most 

 thickly strewn over the broad end. We learn from Azara that the Bentevi is readily tamed, and 

 when caged will live on peaceful terms with 

 its companions. The same authority men- 

 tions a peculiarity that he observed in one of 

 these birds that he himself reared, namely, 

 that it always seized the bits of flesh that 

 were given to it in his beak, and struck them 

 repeatedly against the ground, as though he 

 supposed the morsels required killing before 

 they could be eaten. 



The FORK-TAILED TYRANTS (Mil- 

 villus) differ from the groups already de- 

 scribed principally in the great length of their 

 forked tails. Their bodies are slender, and 

 they have short necks, broad heads, and 

 long wings. Their large, strong beaks bulge 

 slightly towards the sides, terminate in a 

 decided hook, and are partially covered with 

 bristles at the base ; the feet are short ; the 

 toes of moderate size, armed with very sharp, 

 compressed claws ; the three first wing-quills, 

 of which the second is the largest, are pointed 

 at the tip. This latter peculiarity is par- 

 ticularly apparent in the male. The plumage 

 is soft and elastic, but by no means thick. 



THE SCISSOR BIRD. 

 The Scissor Bird of the Brazilians (Mil- 

 vulus iyraimus), though properly a native 

 of Central America, is occasionally met with 

 in the United States. The length of this 

 elegant species is about fourteen inches, of 

 which at least ten belong to the exterior 

 tail-feathers, whilst those in the centre do 

 not measure more than two and a half inches. 

 Its head and cheeks are deep black, except at 

 the lower part of the crest, which is yellow ; the back is ash-grey ; the under side white ; the quills, 

 wing-covers, and rump are blackish brown, edged with grey ; the outer web of the exterior tail-feathers 

 is white along the whole of the upper half; the eye dark brown ; the beak and feet are black. 



We learn from Audubon and Nuttall that the Scissor Birds are frequently met with upon all the 

 vast steppes of Central and Southern America, arid are common in some districts. They are usually 

 seen assembled in large parties upon low brushwood, and from thence fly down to seize their insect 



VOL. II. — 60 



THE SCISSOR BIRD [Mih/ulus tyi annus). 



