230 cassell's book of birds. 



The ANT THRUSHES (Myiethcrce) constitute a family of birds principally inhabiting South 

 America. Some of them are very similar in appearance to the Wood Thrush, whilst others resemble 

 the Shrikes. The formation of the beak varies considerably, being sometimes much arched, sometimes 

 awl-shaped, and of very different size and strength. The tail is of various lengths, straight or rounded 

 at its extremity, the wing is invariably short and rounded, the tarsus is high and powerful, while the 

 toes are long, thin, and armed with long, slender, and occasionally spur-shaped claws. The plumage 

 of all is soft and much variegated. 



The Ant Thrushes inhabit forests or wooded tracts that abound upon the vast prairies of South 

 America, and appear entirely to avoid mountain regions. Some few species venture near the 

 inhabited districts j but, for the most part, they resort to the densest thickets or closest copses, and 

 are most numerous in the hottest, quietest, and moistest localities, where they generally live upon the 

 ground, and trust, even when alarmed, more to the swiftness of their feet than to the use of their 

 wings. Other species again, frequent the bushes, and hop from branch to branch in search of food. 

 The strength of foot displayed by the members of this family fully equals that of any other race of 

 birds ; they leap up and down with the utmost agility, and when endeavouring to elude pursuit, 

 spring over the ground with a rapidity that renders it difficult even for a dog to overtake them. 

 It is only during the period of incubation that the Ant Thrushes are content to take up their abode 

 in any one particular spot ; at other seasons they wander about from place to place, without, however, 

 undertaking any regular migrations. We are almost unacquainted with the voices of these birds, but 

 are told that great dissimilarity is observable in their notes, and that though some species are far 

 noisier than the rest, none are distinguished for their powers of song. Insects constitute their 

 principal food : these are obtained from the surface of the ground, sometimes by scratching upon 

 it after the manner of hens. According to Kittlitz, they by no means despise vegetable diet. They 

 greedily devour ants, and thus render inestimable service to mankind, by helping to destroy some 

 of the vast swarms of those much-dreaded insects that occasionally sweep over the face of the 

 country. " Everywhere in the neighbourhood of Para," Mr. Bates tells us, " the Saiiba Ants are 

 seen marching to and fro in broad columns, and carrying destruction among the cultivated trees and 

 vegetables of the Brazilians. So large are the communities made by these tiny creatures, that the 

 traveller often comes upon heaps of their dwellings of not less than forty yards in circumference, 

 though not more than two feet high." We learn from Mene'trier that the Ant Thrushes breed in the 

 spring-time of their native lands, and lay from two to three white eggs, marked with red ; these are 

 usually deposited with but slight preparations in a hole in the ground, or some similar situation. 



THE FIRE EYE. 

 The Fire Eye {Pyrigkna domialld) is a well-known member of the family of Ant Thrushes, 

 belonging to a group that comprises a number of the long-tailed species, who live principally amongst 

 the branches of shrubs or in the underwood, and comparatively rarely seek their food upon the 

 surface of the ground. They are all recognisable by their straight, conical beak, which is hooked at 

 its tip, and slightly incised ; also by their high powerful tarsi, strong toes, armed with short, slender, 

 curved claws, moderate-sized wings, in which the fourth quill exceeds the rest in length, and 

 moderately long and rounded tail. The plumage of the male Fire Eye is almost entirely black, as are 

 also the beak and feet. The larger feathers of the wing-covers are edged with white, and those 

 upon the shoulder entirely white. The eye, as the name of the bird indicates, is of a brilliant fiery 

 red. The female is olive -brown, except upon the nape and throat, which are pale yellow. The 

 length of this species is seven inches, its breadth nine inches ; the wing measures three inches, and 

 the tail two inches and three-quarters. The Fire Eye inhabits the forests of Brazil, and principally 



