THE PENSILE-WARBLER — WRENS — MOTMOT. 367 



The Superb in rich robes flaunted by without lute ; 

 And the African blew, as it pleas'd him, his flute ; 

 One, the Babbling, was heard in a neighbouring vale; 

 While the Motmot( 37 ) ran past with his singular tail. 



The Bananivora, Banana- Warbler, or Bananiste, is often 

 seen on the bananas, on which it is supposed to feed ; song 

 trifling ; inhabits St. Domingo. 



The Pensilis, or Pensile-Warbler, inhabits St. Domingo 

 and the pine thickets of Georgia ; it is five inches long, and a 

 most beautiful species ; nest very curious, hanging by the top 

 and playing with every blast of wind ; the opening is beneath, 

 through which the bird rises some way upward, over a kind of 

 partition, and descends again to the bottom, on which the eggs, 

 four, are laid on a soft downy matter. The nests are frequently 

 seen suspended on the withes which hang from tree to tree, and 

 chiefly such as are over water ; song very delicate, and con- 

 tinued throughout the year; the female also sings, although not 

 equal to the male ; feeds on insects and fruit ; breeds, it is said, 

 two or three times a year. 



The Carolinensis, Louisiane-Wren, or Caroline- Wren, is five 

 inches long ; inhabits various parts of South America ; called 

 Tout-voix by the French ; song said to be little inferior to the 

 nightingale ; nest like a melon ; the entrance to which is about 

 the middle ; it is suspended between reeds, and lined with fea- 

 thers ; it is made by the female, the male bringing her the ma- 

 terials. 



The Calendula, or Ruby-crowned- Wren, is larger than the 

 Golden-crested-Wren ; plumage above olive, with a tinge of 

 brown, beneath yellowish-white ; note loud ; it has also a 

 pretty soft warbling one ; inhabits South Carolina and Georgia. 



( 37 ) Order, Pice, (Lath.) Motmot. 

 The genus Momotus, (Lath.) or Motmot, consists of two 

 species ; the characteristics are a strong, slightly curved bill, 

 serrate at the edges; nostrils feathered; tongue feathered ; tail 



