28 
ZOOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY. 
[part iil 
although recognizing the fact of its zoological and geographical 
diversity, as well as its vast superiority over every other sub- 
region in the number and variety of its animal forms. 
The reptiles, fishes, mollusca, and insects of this sub-region 
have been sufficiently discussed in treating of the entire region, 
as by far the larger proportion of them, except in the case of 
land-shells, are found here. 
Plate XV, Characteristic Neotropical Birds. — To illustrate the 
ornithology of South America we place our scene on one of the 
tributaries of the Upper Amazon, a district where this class of 
animals is the most prominent zoological feature, and where a 
number of the most remarkable and interesting birds are to be 
found. On the left we have the umbrella-bird (Cephalopterus 
ornatus), so called from its wonderful crest, which, when ex- 
panded, completely overshadows its head like an umbrella. It is 
also adorned with a long tassel of plumes hanging from its breast, 
which is formed by a slender fleshy tube clothed with broad 
feathers. The bird is as large as a crow, of a glossy blue-black 
colour, and belongs to the same family as the exquisitely tinted 
blue-and-purple chatterers. Flying towards us are a pair of curl- 
crested toucans (. Pteroglossus beauharnaisii), distinguished among 
all other toucans by a crest composed of small black and shining 
barbless plumes, resembling curled whalebone. The general 
plumage is green above, yellow and red beneath, like many of its 
allies. To the right are two of the exquisite little whiskered 
hummers, or “ frill-necked coquettes,” as they are called by Hr. 
Gould, (. Lophornis gouldi). These diminutive birds are adorned 
with green-tipped plumes springing from each side of the throat, 
as well as with beautiful crests, and are among the most elegant 
of the great American family of humming-birds, now numbering 
about 400 known species. Overhead are perched a pair of 
eurassows [Crax globulosa ), which represent in America the 
pheasants of the Old World. There are about a dozen species 
of these fine birds, most of which are adorned with handsome 
curled crests. That figured, is distinguished by the yellow car- 
uncular swellings at the base of the bill. The tall crane-like bird 
near the water is one of the trumpeters, ( Psophia leucoptera), elegant 
