BRASILIAN SAW-BILLED ROLLER^ 
;hat, in young sul)je(fts, the webs are continuous 
'and entire ; and, as they grow up, they become 
shorter, by degrees, so as at last to disappear. 
I We shall not stop to describe more particularly 
' the plumage of this bird ; for the colours are so 
intermingled, that it would be impossible, by 
words, to convey a distindl idea of them : 
they are, also, aiFedled by age or sex. These 
birds are difficult to rear, though Piso asserts 
the contrary ; and, as they feed on inse£ls, it 
is not easy to chuse what will suit their taste* 
Those caught old cannot be bred ; they are 
extremely shy, and refuse all sustenance. The 
Houtou is a wild, solitary bird ; never founds 
but in the gloomy recesses of forests. It asso- 
ciates not in flocks, nor even in pairs. It is 
ahnost continually on the ground, or among 
the low branches : for it never, properly, flies ; 
but leaps nimbly, pronouncing smartly, " Hou- 
tou!" It is early in motion, and it's cry is 
heard before the warble of the other birds, 
Piso was ill-informed, when he said that it 
builds on lofty trees ; for it never constru6ls a 
nest, nor does it rise to any considerable height. 
It is contented with some hole of the Arma- 
dillos, of the Cavies, or of other small quadru-^ 
pedsj 
