other species, in order to place them in his new genera Conopophaga
and Tamnophilus, giving themame of Myrmothera to the remaining
species, with the exception- of the Myiothera rex, for which he
formed a distinct genus, with the name of Grallaria. We agree with
Vieillot, in respect’^ the latter bird ; but as regards the other species,
we prefer the arrangement of Temminck, whir has adopted the
genus Myiothera nearly as constituted by JUiger, including, some of
the slender-billed Tamnophili ofWieillot, of whiofe$*©ur Myiothera
obsoleta would probably be one" as above stated.^-
The genus thus constituted contains numerous species, which
inhabit the hottest parts of the globe; a greater number of them
existing in South America than elsewhere. For_ the, sakejof Convenience,
several sections may be formed in „this genus, founded op
the characters of the bill, tail, and tarsus; but as we have-only one
species, it does not rest with us to make divisions,, and- shall
merely remark, that our obsoleta is referable to the last hCAlknn^'Jilk
sisting of those whose bills are tl|Mmost slender,, elongated,, and
arcuated, in company with the Turdus lineatus of Gmelin.
* ■ The Antcatchers mayjustly be enumerated amongst the benefactors
of mankind, as they dwell in regions where the ants, ai’e so numerous,
large, and voracious, that without their agency, co-operating withfchat
of the Myrmecophaga jubata, and a few other ant-eating quadrupeds,
the produce of the soil would inevitably be destroyed in those fertile
parts of the globe. The ant-hills of South America are often more
than twenty feet in diameter, and many feet in height, These wonderful
edifices are thronged with two hundred fold more inhabitants,
and are proportionally far more numerous, than the small ones with
which we are familiar. Breeding in vast numbers, and multiplying
with great celerity and profusion, the increase of these insects would
soon enable them to swarm over the greatest extent of country, were
not their propagation and diffusion limited by the active exertions of
that part of the animal creation, which continually subsist by their
destruction.
- n The-Antcatchers run. rapidly on the ground, alighting but seldom
fojtotrees, and then-^fflltheS%'^|t'ibihnche$ji^A^generally associate
in small flocks, feed e ^ l^ v h l^ i oisM&peilts, and mo'stibommonly frequent
the*: large.'all ore mentioned. Several1 different species
of l'hch^T)ir;di^r^®®i{,ql)''Cnv,edi>to live in perfect harmony on the
same mound, which, as it. supplies an abundance', of food for all,
removes oiiebUhillMhd^uses^pf^cpscb'rdfevhich is most universally ope-
throughout animated-nature. principle we might
explain theu'^iupafokliflfJinlM'lpFsV of hefcbJ^ &M^ animals, as well m
•the and solitary vhabitsJ$bfif ©armforpu^ and particularly of
rapacious animals, which repulse !iJ1^8j||jg^from fe^em^b&Lety, land
forbid evOhph^^Sivn kind tc^pproach the^lpnits ofttheir, sanguinary
domain. 1
The Antcatchers n e v e s » t h e aar ^ j j jMdo they extend
their flighfotoj?anytfgE'e'at distanc^^ifh®ift alighting p fe is t, in conse-
qudnce?ofoth^^^®p^i^mK^ wings'dnd¥tail',) which/ in fact, seem
to b^S^Mbmwefoplbyed for any jqfeher, purposefthan||€| assist them in
running along><;ljR'(^fV<(iu.id,' or in leapingl&^&j branch tovhranch of
bushes and lowlijjeijlbg an whidSjpMi|lsplaV remarkable
activity. J^Mnes species, like theAYoodpeckers, i climb on the trunks
of trees in pursuit df Msfe'ct&;- and, it would^appear, from th&ferestless
habits and* almost ji»^t&nt. motion, that theii%limited excursions are
entirely attributable to the wanttofScnore ample^pro vision >. foriflight.
The Antcatqhefe'r are. never found inlisettled district^Vdmf ef their
favourite-f-inseots are generally s’tess abundant; but they live in the
dense and remote parts of forests,- far from 5 the abodes of man and
civilization, .rf They .also disldkeidp^fi'and^wet countries.
The nOtbmfothe;AtttcatchersitCsf as various as-uheospecies are different,
but itUisual-U?ayS'very'.re’markdble5and peculiar. Their flesh
is oHy and disagreeable to the taste; and, when the bird is opened,
# very offensive odour is diffused, from the .remains of half-digested
ants and other insects, contained in the stomach.