476 



AVES. 



Fam. Cinclidae. Dippers or water-ousels. Cinclus aquaticus Bechst. 



Fam. Troglodytidae. Wrens, principally in trop. America. Tro- 

 glodytes parvulus Koch, the common wren. 



Fam. Chamaeidae. One genus, N. Amer. 



Fam. Hlrundinidae. Swallows and martins. With 12 rectrices and 

 anteriorly scutellated metatarsus. With broad, triangular beak, split 

 nearly to the eyes. Feet small and weak. Tail long and forked. Cos- 

 mopolitan ; the European species pass the winter in Central Africa. The 

 nests are formed of small lumps of moist earth and short straws and slender 

 sticks. Hirundo rustica L., the swallow. Chelidon tirbica L., the house- 

 martin. Cotile riparia L., the sand-martin, nests in holes in the earth, 

 which it digs for itself. 



Fam. Campephagidae. Cuckoo-shrikes. Oxynotus of Mauritius and 



Fig. 2S6.—Cincinnarus regixis, male and female (from Claus) 



Reunion has two species in which the males are aUke, the females being 

 very different. 



Fam. Dicruridae. Drongos. Etliiopian, Indian and Australian Regions. 



Fam. Ampelidae. Ampelis garrulus L., the waxwing, Arctic Europe, 

 Asia and Anierica ; A. carolinensis, cedar bird of N. Amer., A. japonicus 

 Japan and Amuria. 



Fam. Artamidae. Wood-swallows, from the AustraUan to the Indian 



Regions. 



Fam. Laniidae. Butcher-birds or slorikes. Large powerful passerines, 

 with hooked, strongly serrated beak, strong rictal vibrissae, and tolerably 

 long, sharply clawed, feet. Lanius excubitor L., grey shrike : L. minor L., 

 lesser grey shrike ; L. rufus L., woodchat shrike ; L. collurio L., red-backed 

 shrike. These birds prey on small mammals, birds., etc., and impale them 

 on thorns to be devoured at leisure. 



