bald tyrants

pl. The English name of a genus of birds, Gymnocephalus, which belongs to the family Ampelidæ (Chatterers), and the sub-family Gym no der inæ, or Fruit crows. Its habitat is South America. Its name is derived from the absence of feathers on a considerable portion of the face. băl-da-chĩn, băl-da-chỉ-nō, bâu'-dě It is generally of a square form, covered with silk or other rich cloth, fringed at the margin. It is supposed to be copied from a structure called in Latin ciborium , and in Greek κιβώριον ( kibōrion ), erected by the early Christians over tombs and altars. Baldachins were first introduced into the Western Church about 1130, and into England about 1279. Some baldachins are of great size. That in St. Peter's at Rome, the largest and finest known, reaches the elevation, including the cro , of 126 feet. On the other hand, some are small enough to be removed from their places and carried over the host in Roman Catholic proce ions.