GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 431 



Of Perching Birds {Passei-es) a number of families are peculiar, 

 and of these the following are among the most typical: — Manakins 

 {Pipridce), small birds which resemble the Tits in appearance 

 and habits. The large family of Chatterers {Cotingida), which 

 include the Umbrella- Bird {Ccphaloptemis ornahts), so named 

 from its large overhanging crest of feathers, and the clear-toned 

 Bell- Bird {Chasmorhynchus). The Tree-Creepers or Picucules 

 i^Dendrocolaptidd) vary remarkably in appearance and in the 

 nature of their nests (see vol. iii, p. 463), while some of the 

 insectivorous Ant -Thrushes {^Fortnicariida;) give notice by their 

 twittering of the approach of armies of Foraging Ants [Ecitoiis). 

 We have also the American "Orioles" {Icteridce), among which 

 are the Cow- Birds [Moiobnis), some of which, like Cuckoos, lay 

 their eggs in the nests of other species (see p. 186). The true 

 "singing birds" (Osa'/ies) of the Old World are comparatively 

 ill represented in this region, the feathered inhabitants of which 

 appeal more to the eye than the ear. Thrushes, however, are 

 abundant. 



Among Picarian Birds i^Picarics) the brilliantly coloured large- 

 billed Toucans [Rhaviphasiida;) constitute a family peculiar to the 

 region. A well-known and remarkable family common to South 

 and North America is that of the Humming-Birds {Trochilidd), 

 which for beauty of form and plumage have few serious rivals. 

 Though they range as far north as Alaska, their head-quarters 

 are in the Neotropical region, which is the home of some 400 

 species, about four-fifths of the total number. 



Of Parrots {Psittaci) there are a number of genera not 

 represented elsewhere, and the gorgeous long -tailed Macaws 

 {Comuddcs) make up a family widely distributed through the 

 region, though also ranging into the Nearctic area. 



Among true Game-Birds {Gallincs) the large and handsome 

 Curassows and their allies, which are related to the Mound- 

 Builders of the Australian region, constitute a family {Cracidce) 

 which is almost entirely neotropical. The remarkable Hoatzin 

 {Opisthocormts cristalus), native to the northern part of South 

 America (see vol. iii, p. 472), may perhaps be regarded as an 

 aberrant game-bird, but it possesses so many structural pecu- 

 liarities that it is placed in a distinct family {Opisthocomida:), 

 while some authorities even consider that it is entided to an 

 order {Opisthocomi) of its own. 



