134 
VERTEBEATA. 
THE FORMIC ARIN^ OR ANT- THRUSHES. 
These, to the East Indian species of whicli 
Buffon gave the name of Breves, resemble the 
true thrushes, but inhabit tropical portions 
of both hemispheres, where they live chiefly 
on insects, and devour large quantities of ants, 
whence their name. Their wings are gener- 
ally short, and some of the species, as the 
Pitta JVipalensiSj for instance, have such 
limited powers of flight that a man can easily 
overtake them. Those of the genus Pitta, 
which are peculiar to the eastern hemisphere, 
are adorned with exceedingly brilliant plum- 
age, azure-blue being the prevalent tint. Of 
this is the Giakt Viitx^P.gigas, of the size of 
a magpie, and of a brilliant green color : found 
in Sumatra. The numerous South American 
species are of more sober colors, mostly brown 
and white. They obtain their living chiefly 
from the enormous ant-hills of the regions in 
which they live. Griffith says of these birds, 
" they are essentially gigantic wrens." 
Of the genus CINCLUS there is a single 
European species, the well-known Watkr- 
OusEL or Dipper, C. aquaticus. This is eight inches long, dark gray above, the neck white, the 
belly brownish-red. Its wings are longer than those of most others of the group, and it fl.ies 
steadily and rapidly. Its haunts are along the borders of clear streams and lakes; it swims 
with ease, and dives freely into the water, and walks about on the bottom with facility, even mak- 
ing its way against a strong current. Its food consists of small shell-fish and insects. The nest is 
oven-shaped, and made on the banks of streams : the eggs pure white, five or six in number. 
THE GIANT PITTA 
THE BLACK DIPPER, OR EUROPEAN WATER-OUSEL. 
There are one or two other species known in Europe and Asia, and one in America, the Black 
Dipper, C. Pallasii : this resembles the common European dipper, but is of a darker color, and 
is without the white mark on the throat. It is found in Mexico and parts of Upper Canada, 
