531 



BOMBYCILLA. WAXWING. 



Only three species of this genus are known, which agree in 

 presenting the following characters : 



Bill short, straight, broad at the base, compressed toward 

 the end : upper mandible with its dorsal line convex and de- 

 clinate, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping and anteriorly con- 

 vex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the notches distinct, the 

 tip small, declinate, rather acute ; lower mandible smaller, 

 with the angle wide, the dorsal line convex and ascending, the 

 sides convex, the edges sharp and somewhat inclinate, the tip 

 acute and slightly ascending, with a small sinus ; the gape- 

 line straight. 



Mandibles moderately concave ; palate with three slight 

 longitudinal ridges anteriorly, covered behind with papillae ; 

 tongue short, triangular, sagittate and papillate at the base, 

 concave above, with the tip horny and deeply slit ; mouth wide. 

 CEsophagus very w^ide, enlarged about the middle ; stomach 

 small, moderately muscular, roundish, with a dense, longitu- 

 dinally rugous, epithelium ; intestine short and excessively 

 wide ; coeca very small, oblong ; rectum wider, and very 

 short. The oesophagus resembles that of the Deglubitores ; 

 the tongue, mouth, stomach and intestine, those of Swallows 

 and Flycatchers. PL XXII, Fig. 3. 



Nostrils large, oval, partly concealed by the reversed feathers. 

 Eyes of moderate size. Body moderately full, neck short, head 

 ovato-oblong. Legs short and moderately stout ; tarsus short, 

 compressed, with seven scutella ; toes of moderate size, first 

 stout and broad beneath, outer slightly adherent at the base, 

 and a little longer than the inner. Claws moderate, arched, 

 compressed, laterally grooved, acute. 



Plumage very soft and blended, with little gloss. Head 

 with a conspicuous tuft. Wings rather long, pointed, of nine- 

 teen quills ; primaries graduated, the first and second longest ; 



