76 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 
all the species. In Casmorhynchus and in Ampelis there 
are no crested birds ; but this ornament forms the prin- 
cipal distinction of the genus Rupicola, or rock manakin — 
of Cayenne. The familiar name of cock of the rock, long 
bestowed on this bird, is very characteristic, since it 
unquestionably represents the rasorial type of the true 
chatterers: by this we are led to the Ampelis carnifew — 
of Linneus, forming our genus Phenicercus ; a remark- 
able form, having the general habit and size of this 
division, and the feet of the true manakins, to which 
now we proceed. | 
(87.) The Pirriv& constitute the subtypical group 
of this family: they are called manakins, from their dimi- 
nutive size, which is seldom larger than that of a tomtit. 
Here again we find the richest tints of yellow, orange, — 
crimson, and blue, relieving the olive green or deep 
black plumage of these elegant little birds. Like the 
preceding, they are strictly American, and chiefly occur 
in the deep virgin forests of the tropics, but they are 
much more social than the Cotingas. They live in little 
bands, are continually in motion, and feed almost en- 
tirely on the large soft berries of the different species 
of Melastoma. The nest of one species (P. pareola) is 
often built in the fork of a shrub, in such an exposed 
manner, that the female can look all round and watch the 
approach of danger: we found one in such a situation 
in the forest of Pitanga, a single leaf of a large pepper- 
plant (Piper) forming a kind of umbrella shade over 
the female, which was sitting, and did not rise from her 
nest as we passed onward. ‘The manakins are easily 
known by their weak and very slender feet, of which 
the two outer toes are considerably united. By that 
singular little bird Calyptura cristata * the genus Pipra 
is united to that of Pardalotus Vieil., or the spotted 
manakins of New Holland. Of a size equally diminu- 
tive, these are nevertheless distinctly separated from the 
last by their stronger bill and more pointed wings ; 
while the feet are stronger, and more perfectly formed, 
* Birds of Brazil, i. pi. 24. 
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