The BLACK-HEADED BUTCHER-BIRD TANGARA (_Lanio atricapillus_) is about
five and a quarter inches long, and eight and a quarter across the wings;
the tail measures two and a half inches, and the wings three inches.
The plumage of the male is black upon the upper part of the body; the
forehead, eyes, throat, and a line over the tail greenish brown, the
under parts of a bright yellow, and the centre of the back and breast
of a reddish shade; a white line passes over the wings. The coat of the
female is greenish red, the head dark green, and the middle of the belly
bright yellow.
These birds are numerous in Guiana, where they generally live in pairs
upon the trees in plantations, or near the coast. D'Orbigny found them
in small flocks, occupying the hot woods at the foot of the Bolivian
Alps, and perching so high upon the branches as to render their capture
difficult. Their food consists of seeds and the tender shoots of young
plants.
* * * * *
The ORGANIST TANGARAS (_Euphone_) constitute another group. These birds
bear a strong family resemblance to the True Tangaras, from which they
have been separated on account of their possessing _two_ tooth-like
prominences behind the apex of the upper mandible. In their general
habits, compact body, short tail, high tarsus, and short broad back,
they seem closely allied to the MANAKINS (_Pipra_). They are small,
thick-headed birds, with strong beaks, which are distinguished by the
peculiarity mentioned above, and much compressed towards the tip. The
wings are short, covered with narrow feathers, and do not reach beyond
the root of the tail; their first three quills are of equal length, the
tail is very short and narrow, and the individual tail-feathers rounded
at their extremities. The plumage differs in the two sexes, the back of
the male being of a blueish steel colour, inclining to green, and that
of the female olive green; the lower parts of the body are brilliant
yellow or light green. A most striking peculiarity in this species is the
seeming absence of any proper stomach or gizzard, these being replaced by
a simple spindle-shaped dilatation, resembling a crop, situated at the
termination of the gullet.
The Organist Tangaras lead a solitary life, inhabiting the depths of
forests, and living upon berries of various kinds; their nests are built
upon thickly-foliaged trees or bushes; the eggs are very long, of a pale
red colour, spotted with reddish brown at the broad end. Their voice
is extremely pleasant and melodious, and capable of a great variety of
notes. Our space does not permit us to mention more than one example of
this group, and our readers must, therefore, take it for granted that all
its other members are more or less similar in appearance and habits to
the species we describe.