Fig. 103.–Umbrella-bird. Cephalopterus ornatus. × ⅕.
Fig. 104.–Bell-bird. Chasmorhynchus niveus. × 2⁄7. (From Waterton's Wanderings.)
The habits of these woodland birds are comparatively little known, but most of them frequent high trees, though some prefer low bushes; such forms as Lipaugus and Heteropelma haunt dense forests, Pipreola and Phibalura more open situations, while small flocks often occur at considerable elevations, Heliochera reaching ten thousand feet. Cephalopterus ornatus loves islands in rivers, Chasmorhynchus and Xenopsaris marshy glades or even sedge-growth. The flight, usually of short duration, is heavy and noisy in Pipreola and elsewhere, Swallow-like in Phibalura; insects are often captured on the wing, and not only these but spiders, molluscs, and even lizards, are occasionally sought upon the ground. Berries, seeds, and the like, however, constitute the chief food. Cephalopterus and Hadrostomus, at least occasionally, beat their prey upon a branch before swallowing it. The members of this Family are usually somewhat shy and dull, but the males of Rupicola were observed by Schomburgk to dance in turn with outspread wings before an assembled flock, strutting and parading with frequent leaps. This bird is credited with a voice like a monkey; Chasmorhynchus niveus is termed Campanero or Bell-bird from its clear, bell-like note, uttered with the caruncle erected, while its congeners have also ringing cries; Cephalopterus gives vent to long deep "lowings" at sunrise and sunset. Tityra semifasciata utters frog-like sounds, Pachyrhamphus a loud whistle, and other species notes resembling those of Tanagers, Tyrants, or Wrens. Rupicola fastens a nest of mud, surmounted by twigs and lined with moss, to projections of rocks in damp, sunless caves, laying two buff eggs with reddish-brown and lilac spots; Pyroderus orenocensis deposits similar eggs on platforms of sticks placed in tree-forks; Tityra semifasciata lines holes in decayed limbs with dry grass to receive its white eggs; Hadrostomus niger, H. homochrous, and some species of Pachyrhamphus, hang big nests of such materials as leaves, plant-stalks and wool, with side entrances, from low branches; the two to four eggs, where known, being chocolate, faintly marked or unspotted; Phibalura fixes a cup of lichens in the crotch of a large tree, laying twice annually two greenish-blue eggs with neutral markings; Cephalopterus is said to make a rough nest of sticks; and Pipreola riefferi to deposit pale salmon-coloured eggs, sparingly spotted with reddish-brown.
Fam. VIII. Phytotomidae.–The Plant-cutters constitute a single genus Phytotoma, of four Finch-like species, having strongly serrated bills and pycnaspidean (p. [479]) metatarsi. The primaries number ten, the secondaries nine, the rectrices twelve. P. rara of Chili is brown and black, with red crown and lower surface, white margins to the wing-coverts, and red-banded lateral tail-feathers; the female has yellowish-brown under parts streaked with black, and a brown crown. P. raimondii of North-West Peru is somewhat like, but has only a narrow red frontlet; P. angustirostris of Bolivia is greyer, with white on the secondaries and tail, and a browner breast; the hen being chiefly greyish, with black striations above and spots below; P. rutila of Argentina and North Patagonia is very similar. Flocks or pairs of Plant-eaters are found in dry open situations, the former often consisting solely of the comparatively unsuspicious males; they sit aloft on bushes, but hide when alarmed. The flight is whirring with sudden short undulations; the food consists of seeds and other fruits, tender shoots, buds and leaves; while the voice is decidedly harsh, the alarm-note of the male resembles the bleating of a kid, and the female's cry is cricket-like. The slight, shallow nest of twigs and fibres is placed in thick bushes, and contains four bluish-green eggs, flecked with brown. The birds are said to cut plants off close to the ground without apparent object.
The four Families that follow are often classed as Tracheophonae, and have loud voices owing to their tracheal syrinx (p. [22]).
Fam. IX. Dendrocolaptidae.–This group, with over 200 species, occupies the Neotropical Region, excluding the Antilles, and is divided by Mr. Sclater[[272]] into the Sub-families Furnariinae, Synallaxinae, Philydorinae, Sclerurinae, and Dendrocolaptinae.
The extremely variable bill is short and straight in Geobates and Henicornis, Warbler-like in the Synallaxinae, stouter and Shrike-like in the Philydorinae, extremely strong in Hylexetastes, short and incurved in Xenerpestes and Phacellodomus, short with upturned genys in Glyphorhynchus, Xenops, and Pygarrhicus, very long, thin, and decurved in Xiphorhynchus, very long, but only slightly curved in Nasica, and so forth. It is much hooked in Ancistrops. The endaspidean[[273]] metatarsus may be long and slender, as in Sylviorthorhynchus; stronger, as in the terrestrial Furnariinae and Sclerurinae; or shorter, as in the scansorial Dendrocolaptinae, which usually have large toes and sharp claws. The scales are almost obsolete in Furnarius and Lochmias; the outer and middle toes are partially connected in the Sclerurinae and Dendrocolaptinae. The wings, which have ten primaries and about nine secondaries, are long in Pseudocolaptes, moderate in Xenerpestes, short and rounded in Lochmias, and frequently decidedly abbreviated. The variable tail, normally of twelve rectrices, is often graduated; the shafts of the quills are stiffened and spiny in the Sclerurinae and Dendrocolaptinae, the latter of which climb and feed in Woodpecker fashion; in the Synallaxinae it is generally long, with pointed but comparatively soft feathers; in the Philydorinae it is short, Anumbius having particularly sharp rhachides. It is also short, though rounded, in Xenerpestes, Coryphistera, and Limnophyes, similar but longer in Clibanornis, while it has the shafts projecting beyond the vanes in Homorus, Oxyurus, and Sittosomus. Schizoeaca and Synallaxis have only ten rectrices, and Sylviorthorhynchus apparently possesses but six, the outer being very short and the inner excessively long with narrow decomposed webs. Limnornis, at least, has the tongue bristly towards the end.
The coloration is chiefly brown of various shades, often with the tail chestnut–or, rarely, the body, as in Homorus; spots, striations, or cross-bars, of white, fulvous, or black occur frequently, and Margarornis has pearl-like markings below. The rump or under parts may be white, and the throat occasionally exhibits a black, rufous or yellow patch, or the breast a chestnut band; while black, rusty, brown, or grey caps are not uncommon, that of Siptornis albiceps being white. The bill may be red, or exceptionally the feet white, as in Furnarius leucopus. Crests are found in F. cristatus, Synallaxis semicinerea, Coryphistera, and Homorus. The sexes, as far as known, are similar. The large Drymornis bridgesi is over a foot long, but many forms are not half that size, and most are comparatively small.