186 
OJf THE CLASSIFICATION OP BIBBS. 
shrikes and the toucans. The first, however, seem to 
be rather scarce in South America, but the two latter 
are very numerous, and both of them are well-known 
suckers of eggs and destroyers of young and old birds. 
(I5y.) There is a style of building peculiar, we be- 
lieve, to the Brazilian genus Synallaxis, which is inter- 
mediate between a fixed and a pendulous structure, 
^ests of this sort ive observed more particularly in the 
interior of Bahia, and they belonged to the Synalhixis 
garrulus,* This little bird is no bigger than a sparrow, 
but its nest is enormous. It is built in low thickets’ 
and, from its size, is apparent to every one, even at some 
distance. The best idea that can be formed of it is to 
suppose that a very thick band of beansticks, about four 
feet long, had got entangled in a hedge, and had been left 
there In an obliquely perpendicular direction. Some- 
times tivo of these nests appear as if joined togetlier, 
and there appeared an opening on the side as well as 
one on the top. The birds are generally seen close to 
the nest, uttering a shrill, incessant, and monotonous 
chirp, particularly in the morning and evening. It is 
to be regretted that one of these nests was not then 
taken to pieces for the purpose of ascertaining whether 
there were, as it then appeared, two openings; for, if so, 
the circumstance would seem to imply that there were 
two chambers. These nests were particularly common 
in one tract, and we satisfied ourselves witli bringing 
home a specimen of the bird. Had their nests been 
built in England, the mischevious disposition of our 
countrymen, and their wanton unfeelingness towards 
the brute creation, would have extirpated nests and 
birds in a few years ; but no such traits are found in 
the African or the Brazilian character: animals not 
used for food, are left quietly to themselves. These 
little birds were so full of confidence that they might 
have been touched by a stick on the threshold of their 
nests. Synallaxis, although a creeper, is a rasorial type. 
* Under the name of Malurus garrulus. Zool. Ulus. i. pi. 138. 
