The British Guiana Museum. 261 
case. It is represented by beautiful specimens 
of Calliste of various colours, by the delicate blue- 
sacki (Tanagra), by the rich ruby-breasted sacki 
(Rhamphoccelas) , and by the rich-red Pyranga. Many 
of this group are extremely common. They are marked 
by the shape of the bill, which is thick and conical but 
not very short, triangular at the base, arched above to 
the tip where it is sharp and hollowed out. 
Of the family of the cassiques, troupials, hang-nests 
or colonial orioles (Icteridse) several specimens are 
shewn at the top of the flat-case (2), and at the 
back of the upright case below the toucans. Among 
them will be found the colonial mocking-bird or 
oriole (Cassicus) , the colonial starlings (Agelazus) , the 
colonial robins {Leistes) with brilliant red breasts in the 
males, the handsome colonial meadow r -lark (Sturnella) 
and the troupials (Icterus), Thebillsin these birdsare very 
curiously formed, being thick at the base, straight or nearly 
so and pointed, compressed from side to side, the keel 
running well back on the forehead. Their nests are long 
and pendent, built on the ends of the branches of trees. 
The family of the tyrant-shrikes (Tyranniddo) is 
represented by several specimens below the cassiques in 
the flat-case (2) and by some in the upright case below 
the woodpeckers. Among them are the huge-billed 
tyrant (Megarhynchus) , and the long-tailed tyrants (Mil- 
vulus). The common " qu'est-ce-qu'il dits," or " kiske- 
dies," are prominent and typical tyrant-shrikes. In all 
these forms the bills are rather long, very wide and 
flattened at the base, compressed at the side to the tip 
which is hooked ; and the nostrils are hidden by feathers 
and bristles. These birds have very cruel propensities. 
LL 
