THE SINGING BIRDS. 23 1 



frequents the shrubs or brushwood in the most shady and retired spots. Its song has been described 

 as a mere piping twitter. So eagerly does this very remarkable bird carry on its chase after ants, that 

 Kittlitz tells us that upon one occasion he fired repeatedly into the midst of a busy party, occupied 

 in clearing a clump of canes from a swarm of black ants, without causing them to cease from their 

 work of destruction. 



THE ANT KING. 

 The Ant King (Grallaria rex) another of these Thrushes, represents a group recognisable by 

 their short, thick beak, which is incised towards its hooked tip, and slightly arched at the culmen ; 

 short, rounded wings, in which the fifth quill is the longest, that scarcely reach beyond the base of 

 the mere stump-like tail ; slender legs, and moderate-sized toes, armed with somewhat curved claws. 

 The plumage is principally brown, the smaller feathers being spotted on the shaft with a lighter 

 shade ; the wing-covers have a reddish tinge ; the quills and tail-feathers are blackish brown, their 

 outer web rust-red ; the bridle, cheeks, and a stripe that passes from the chin to the throat are pale 

 yellowish white ; the entire under side is light yellowish brown, the eye greyish brown, the beak 

 blackish grey, and the feet reddish grey ; the body measures eight, the wing four inches, the tail an 

 inch and a half, and the tarsus two inches. All the interminable forests upon the coast of South 

 America, from Brazil to Columbia, are inhabited by these birds, of whose habits, however, we are 

 completely ignorant, as they live exclusively within the shelter of the densest brushwood, and 

 invariably take flight at the approach of man. Burmeister tells us that their penetrating cry is to be 

 heard from early morning till late in the evening ; that they make their nest upon the ground, and 

 lay blueish green eggs. 



THE TAPACOLO. 



The Tapacolo (Pkroptochus mcgapodius) represents another group of South American Ant 

 Thrushes, in many respects resembling the Australian Lyre Birds, and particularly characterised by 

 the very unusual development ot the feet. Their body is elongate, their wing short, their tail 

 rounded and of medium size ; the beak is powerful, and compressed at the sides ; the tarsus is 

 robust, and of moderate height ; the toes are slender, and armed with slightly-curved spur-like 

 claws of great length. The Tapacolo or Tualo of Chili is of a brownish olive on the upper part 

 of the body ; the breast is reddish brown, and the rump of a reddish brown hue, striped with white : 

 the belly whitish, with dark markings ; the throat, sides of the neck, and a line over the eyes are 

 white ; the quills bordered with reddish brown, and the tail-feathers entirely brown. 



" The Pteroptochus mcgapodius," says Mr. Darwin, " called by the Chilians ' el Turco,' is as 

 large as a Fieldfare, to which bird it has some alliance ; but its legs are much longer, tail shorter, 

 and beak stronger ; its colour is a reddish brown. The Turco is not uncommon. It lives on the 

 ground, sheltered among the thickets which are scattered over the dry and sterile hills. 'With its tail 

 erect, and stilt-like legs, it may be seen every now and then popping from one bush to another with 

 uncommon celerity. It really requires little imagination to believe the bird is ashamed of itself, and 

 aware of its most ridiculous figure. On first seeing it one is tempted to exclaim, ' A vilely-stuffed 

 specimen has escaped from some museum, and has come to life again.' It cannot be made to take 

 flight without the greatest trouble, nor does it run, but only hops. The various loud cries which it 

 utters when concealed amongst the bushes are as strange as its whole appearance. It is said to build 

 its nest in a deep hole beneath the ground. I dissected several specimens ; the gizzard, which was 

 very muscular, contained beetles, vegetable fibre, and pebbles. From this character, and from the 

 length of its legs, scratching feet, membraneous covering to the nostrils, and short and arched wing, 

 this bird seems, to a certain extent, to connect the Thrushes with the gallinaceous order. 



