PASSERINE BIRDS. 1 55 



possessing two tooth-like prominences behind the apex of the upper mandible. In their general 

 habits, compact body, short tail, high tarsus, and short broad back, they seem closely allied to the 

 Manakins (Piprd). They are small, thick-headed birds, with strong beaks, which are distinguished by 

 the peculiarity mentioned above, and much compressed towards the tip. The wings are short, covered 

 with narrow feathers, and do not reach beyond the root of the tail ; their first three quills are of 

 equal length, the tail is very short and narrow, and the individual tail-feathers rounded at their 

 extremities. The plumage differs in the two sexes, the back of the male being of a blueish steel 

 colour, inclining to green, and that of the female olive green ; the lower parts of the body are brilliant 

 yellow or light green. A most striking peculiarity in this species is the seeming absence of any proper 

 stomach or gizzard, these being replaced by a simple spindle-shaped dilatation, resembling a crop, 

 situated at the termination of the gullet. 



The Organist Tangaras lead a solitary life, inhabiting the depths of forests, and living upon 

 berries of various kinds ; their nests are built upon thickly-foliaged trees or bushes ; the eggs are 

 very long, of a pale red colour, spotted with reddish brown at the broad end. Their voice is extremely 

 pleasant and melodious, and capable of a great variety of notes. Our space does not permit us to 

 mention more than one example of this group, and our readers must, therefore, take it for granted 

 that all its other members are more or less similar in appearance and habits to the species we 

 describe. 



THE VIOLET ORGANIST. 



The Violet Organist, or Guttarama {Euphone violacea), the bird we select to represent its 

 kindred, is four inches long, and seven inches broad; the wing measures two and a quarter 

 inches, and the tail one and a half inches. In the male the brow and the whole of the lower part of 

 the body are bright yellow, the upper parts, from the forehead downwards, of a blueish violet ; the 

 wing-covers are shaded with a pretty green, as are the edges of the quills, the inner border of the latter 

 being white ; the upper side of the tail is blueish green, its lower surface black, and the two exterior 

 feathers white upon the inner web and shaft. The female is of a sad olive colour upon the back, 

 and yellowish grey underneath; the wing and tail feathers are brownish grey. The young birds 

 resemble the mother ; the second coat of the young male is greyish blue, spotted with yellow on 

 the lower parts of the body. 



We are but little acquainted with the habits of this species, though it is frequently caged, and is 

 in all respects an elegant, lively little creature, hopping and flying with great animation, and possessing 

 a full and agreeable voice. The Guttaramas subsist chiefly on fruit, preferring that of the orange, 

 banana, or guava trees, to which they do great damage. In Guiana they are also extremely trouble- 

 some by reason of the injury they do to the fields of rice, over which they sometimes fly in small 

 flocks. 



The BRIGHT-COATED FINCHES {Amadina), a group to which we shall next call attention, 

 comprehends many brightly plumaged, compactly formed, small birds, inhabiting Africa, Southern Asia, 

 and Australia, They are distinguished by the absence of a hook at the end of their somewhat thick 

 beaks ; their wings are of- moderate length, their tail is short and graduated, the two middle feathers 

 often extending far beyond the rest, and their legs are comparatively weak. The males are much more 

 brilliantly coloured than their mates, although the latter are by no means deficient in this respect, so that 

 their gay presence lends an indescribable charm to the districts they inhabit. The song of these 

 beautiful Finches is by no means equal to their external gifts, nevertheless they seem anxious to atone 

 for all deficiencies by the zeal and industry with which they pour fordi their notes throughout the 

 greatest part of the year ; their voices are extremely varied, some having a curious kind of song, 



