one-eighth are climbers. The range in size is a
wide one--from the tiny humming-bird to the ema, rhea, or American
ostrich. Although the order which includes song-birds is numerous in
species and individuals, it is noticeably poor in really good
songsters. On the other hand it is exceptionally rich in species
having strident voices and peculiar unmusical calls, like the _paco_
(_Coracina scuttata_) and the _araponga_ (_Chasmorhynchus
nudicollis_). Two species of vultures, twenty-three of falcons and
eight of owls represent the birds of prey. The best known vulture is
the common _urubu_ (_Cathartes foetens_, Illig), which is the
universal scavenger of the tropics. The climbers comprise a large
number of species, some of which, like those of the parrot
(_Psittacidae_) and woodpecker (_Picus_), are particularly noticeable
in every wooded region of the country. One of the most striking
species of the former is the brilliantly-coloured _arara_
(_Macrocercus_, L.), which is common throughout northern Brazil.
Another interesting species is the toucan (_Ramphastos_), whose
enormous beak, awkward flight and raucous voice make it a conspicuous
object in the great forests of northern Brazil. In strong contrast to
the ungainly toucan is the tiny humming-bird, whose beautiful plumage,
swiftness of flight and power of wing are sources of constant wonder
and admiration. Of this smallest of birds there are fifty-nine
well-known species, divided into two groups, the _Phaethorninae_,
which prefer the forest shade and live on insects, and the
_Trochilinae_, which frequent open sunny places where flowers are to
be found. One of the Brazilian birds whose habits have attracted much
interest is the _Joao de Barro_ (Clay John) or oven bird (_Furnarius
rufus_), which builds a house of reddish clay for its nest and
attaches it to the branch of a tree, usually in a fork. The thrush is
represented by a number of species, one of which, the _sabia_
(_Mimus_), has become the popular song-bird of Brazil through a poem
written by Goncalves Dias. The dove and pigeon have also a number of
native species, one of which, the _pomba jurity_ (_Peristera
frontalis_), is a highly-appreciated table luxury. The gallinaceous
birds are well represented, especially in game birds. The most
numerous of these are the _perdiz_ (partridge), the best known of
which is the _Tinamus maculosa_ which frequ