ABOUT THE JAPIRU. 
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exhibits midway an appendage shaped, like itself, after the pattern of 
a purse, and accommodating a couple of japus. The same tree will 
often hold thirty or forty nests, or more ; all of them being suspended 
to the dry branches. Nor can naturalist or sportsman desire a 
pleasanter spectacle than that of a tree thus loaded, and enlivened by 
the flitting in and out of these large and handsome birds. The males 
expand their superb tails, open wide their ample wings, lower their 
heads, swell out their crops, and make the welkin ring with their 
sonorous, peculiar voice. In flying, they produce with their wings a 
noise audible at a considerable distance. They allow a stranger to 
watch their movements for hours, without showing any sign of annoy- 
ance or apprehension. 
Another species is the japiru, or Cassicus icteronotus, thus charac- 
terized by Mr. Bates : — 
He belongs to the same family of birds as our starling, rook, and 
magpie, and has a rich yellow and black plumage, remarkably compact 
and velvety in texture. The shape of his head and his physiognomy 
are very similar to those of the magpie ; he has light gray eyes, which 
give him the same knowing expression. He is social in his habits, and 
builds his nest, like the English rook, on trees in the neighbourhood of 
habitations. But it is quite differently constructed, being shaped 
like a purse, two feet in length, and suspended from a slender branch, 
generally very near the ground. The entrance is on the side, near the 
bottom of the nest. This bird is a great favourite with the Brazilians 
of Para ; he is a noisy, stirring, babbling creature, passing constantly 
to and fro, chattering to his comrades, and very ready at imitating 
other birds — especially the domestic poultry of the vicinity. 
THE FLYCATCHERS. 
Still keeping to the Western World, but passing from the virgin 
forests of Brazil and Guiana to the woods of the United States, we find 
in the great crested flycatcher a nest-builder of a peculiar turn of mind. 
WTiat is most remarkable about his work is the materials he makes use 
of In a hollow tree, deserted by the bluebird, or woodpecker, he puts 
