PUASSIOISIENS 
1S) 
Range. The Piprid@ are one of the charasteristic groups of the neotropical avifauna. 
They range from Southern Mexico to Paraguay and the Argentine province Misiones, but are 
entirely absent from the Antillean and Patagonian subregions. The zenith of their distribution 
is reached in the Amazonian forest-region where they are especially numerous, both in indivi- 
duals and in species. 
Habits and Reproduction. Little is known about their habits. According to Prince 
Wied-Neuwied, they live in pairs or small flocks, and frequent the under-growth of primeval 
forests. They mostly feed on berries, but some species are said to eat also small insects. Their 
notes are short, soft whistles which, however, are only seldom uttered. 
The Pipride build a slight shallow nest of grasses, which is suspended from the fork of 
a branch in low shrubs. The eggs are white or cream-coloured, spotted with brown or reddish, 
these blotches being often more or less confluent round the larger end. According to Euler, 
who observed Chiromachaeris manacus gutturosus in Southeast Brazil, the clutch consists of two 
eggs only. 
Bibliography. Sclater, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. Vol. 14, 1888. p. 28 32-325. 
KEY TO) PEE GENERA OH WEk Pepe 
la BULL shovien. Subleymimal notch slight os. xs 8 2 jo 20 ee ee er 
— Bill move elongated and more compressed. Subterminal notch very distinct . . . . . . . . se 
2. Tail shorter, about half the length of the wing ov less(1) . . . ». . =. 5 «© 1... ees 
— Tail longer, two-thirds of the wing oy move . . . . . = Ge ee i 
3. Throat feathers more or less elongated. Outer primaries of abnormal shape. . . |. . . . . . . . 4. 
— Uhroat jeathers norelongated: «3. 8 a) ss ee se eh Se 
4. Throat feathers much elongated. Outer primaries attenuated and curved inwards, 13. Genus CHIROMACHARIS. 
— Throat feathers but slightly elongated. First primary attenuated oy shortened, but 
LOW CUFUCH es. eM ye) ee n-ne nen enlist CORAPIPOR 
5. Four outer primaries attenuated. Male with the mantle pale blue, and a distinct 
vertical crest of ved ov yellow. . . . . . To, Genus CHIROXIPHIA 
— Only the first primary attenuated. Male with t the mantle black, ‘aveheal dark ved, 
MOVUEVERCAL GHOSE, a) ey cee ne ol ound el) Ge eT Coe TET vas 
—  Noneroptheprimavtesiattenuated. |. 3 5 es 6 ee ee 
Guushayis\ of the secondaviessnovmal. 2) 2) 2 ee eee ee ue Genus tera 
— Shafts of the secondaries thickened . . . . . . . ..~. ~~. ~. ~. +. 3. Genus MACH@ROPTERUS. 
7. Outer tail feathers much produced, terminating in a long hair-like filament . . 2. Genus CrRRHIPIPRA. 
— Outer tail feathers normal : 5a, ee ee Ape ARN ee ee 
8. Mesorhinium broad and flattened. Plumage fe the ar eh black. . . . 7. Genus XENOPIPO. 
==" Mesovhiniwm Cut slightly rounded’ =) cs 0s 2S ete oe, oe eo Cee Oe 
Qn Evontal feather svevect <2 Ox 3) ies, SeNe SERA eC re) ee a ee On 
= Frontal feathers not erect. 1. 2. a a ha eG, ee eee ee 
WG LECT SESE I 6 ee ew Gd Se g. Genus ANTILOPHIA, 
= wlarysalscutesyused. pe yee) ae ey ee en ea Genism iAsnoss 

(rt) The elongated central tail feathers in some species of the genera Chiroxiphia and [licuya not being taken in account._ 
