Hab. Brazil and N. Argentina.
White met with a single individual of this fine Bush-bird at Concepcion, Misiones. It was observed on the ground feeding on a swarm of black ants.
[223.] THAMNOPHILUS MAJOR, Vieill.
(LARGER BUSH-BIRD.)
Thamnophilus major, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 69; White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 614 (Salta); Salvin, Ibis. 1880, p. 359 (Salta). Thamnophilus stagurus, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 471 (Paraná, Tucuman).
Description.—Above black, upper wing-coverts crossed by a row of white spots; the outer rectrix on each side tipped and barred with white, the other rectrices, excepting the middle pair, spotted with white on their inner webs; beneath pure white; bill black, feet grey: whole length 8·0 inches, wing 3·6, tail 2·8. Female above rufous, beneath white, lower flanks and under tail-coverts tinged with ochraceous; tail wholly rufous.
Hab. Paraguay and N. Argentina.
White found this species common in the gardens round the town of Oran. He noted the iris as “crimson.”
Azara’s account of this species is prefaced by the following remarks on the birds of this genus known to him in Paraguay:—“These birds inhabit only the dense and tangled thickets, and never show themselves outside of their hiding-places, except for a few moments in the early morning and in the evening; but at no time do they perch high on the trees, but keep always within a few feet of the earth. They live in pairs; feed solely on insects caught in the bushes which they frequent, or on the ground, on which, however, the bird alights only to pick up its prey, and then returns to the twig to devour it. They are stationary, and fly only from one thicket to another. Many of the species have a similar voice or song, which is singular, powerful, and heard only in the love-season. The call is a trill of a single note rapidly reiterated, and loud enough to be heard half a mile away; the cry being accompanied by vibratory motions of the wings.”