268 



Marvels of the Universe 



UMBRELLA BIRDS 



BY SIR H. H. JOHNSTON, G.C.M.G. 



South and Central America are the home of several remarkable groups of Passerine birds of rela- 

 tively large size, and of more primitive structure than the Singing-birds which make up such an 

 overwhelming contingent in numbers of the whole bird class as it exists at the present day. Amongst 

 these there is, perhaps, no more extraordinary form to be seen as regards the development of 

 plumage than the Umbrella Birds. The best known of these was introduced to European collec- 

 tions as early as the eighteenth century, coming fi-om the forests of the Amazon in Northern Brazil. 

 It had been seldom seen alive by white men, as it lived in the higher branches of forest trees, where 

 it subsisted on wild fruits. But the natives pursued it for its extraordinary plumage and obtained 

 specimens by the use of; their blow-guns. The great naturalist-explorer, H. W. Bates, gave an 

 excellent description of the peculiar vocal powers of this Umbrella Bird. " It drew itself up on its 

 perch, spread widely the umbrella-formed crest, dilated and waved its glossy breast lappet, and 

 then, in giving vent to its loud, piping note, bowed its head slowly forwards." 



Further research amongst the forests and mountains of Equatorial America produced still more 

 remarkable developments of these birds in the way of plumage and appendages. Of such are the 

 two species here illustrated — the Pendulum-bearer from Ecuador, and the Bare-necked Umbrella 

 Bird from Costa Rica. In the first-named the chest appendage or lappet grows to a length of as 

 much as eight inches in the male ; in the females of all forms of Umbrella Birds the eccentric 

 developments of the plumage do not attain the same proportions. In the Bare-necked Umbrella 

 Bird the appendage is shorter, almost devoid of feathers, and is covered with a brightly coloured red 

 and yellow skin. It was shown by Bates that these appendages were pouches communicating with 

 the breathing and vocal organs, and increased the depth and flute-like mellowness of the loud call. 



. 



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[ W. .^inlle Kent. 



A GIANT CLAM. 



An empty shell of a Gianl Clam on an Australian coral reef exposed at low water, The pure while of the interior 

 contrasts strongly w^ith the dull-coloured and weedy exterior. 



