VIREONID^E. — XXXI. 73 



The Ampellnce constitute a single genus of three 

 species. All are crested birds with a soft plumage of a 

 handsome cinnamon drab color; the ends of the secon- 

 daries, and sometimes of the tail feathers, also, are 

 tipped with horny appendages, looking like red sealing- 

 wax. 



The tail is short and square, much shorter than the 

 long wings, and in our species it is tipped with yellow. 

 The Wax Wings are migratory and gregarious, feeding 

 on insects and soft fruits. Their voices are weak and 

 wheezy, and they can scarcely be considered as songsters. 



/. AMPELIS, Linn^us. Wax Wings. 



1. A. garrulus,!^. Bohemian Wax Wing. Northern 

 Wax Wing. General color an indescribable silky, ashy 

 brown with a red tinge; front and sides of head shaded 

 with purplish cinnamon; a black band across forehead 

 around head; throat black; crissum chestnut red; two 

 broad white wing bars; L. 7;^; W. 4^; T. 3. Northern 

 regions, S. in winter in large flocks to the Great Lakes; 

 an interesting and beautiful bird, 



2. A. cedrorum, (Vieill.) Bd. Cedar Bird. Cherry 

 Bird. Southern Wax Wing. Similar but smaller and 

 less cinnamon-tinged, chin black; strip across face black, 

 bordered above by whitish; bell}^ yellowish; crissum 

 white; no wing bars; ? with the wax-like appendages 

 small or wanting; L. 6^; W. 3f ; T. 2^. E. U. S., 

 abundant. 



FAMILY XXXL — VIREONID^. 



(T7ie Vireos.) 

 Primaries 10, or apparently only 9, the first being 

 sometimes rudimentary and displaced. Bill shorter than 

 head, stout, compressed, decidedly notched and hooked. 



4 



