542 ' CEDAR BIRD. 



The Rough-winged Swallow doei^ not nest in coniinunities like the I3;uik SwalloAv, 

 but singly, the nest is also mi:ch nioiv Inilky than that of the Buik Swallow, and is not 

 as a rule placed as far back from the entrance of the hole, often not more than a foot. 

 The e^ii's are all deijosited and incubation beuins bv the last of Ma v. - 



FAMILY IV. AMPELIDAE. THE CHATTERERS. 



Based mainly upon tlie sini^Ie g-enus Ampelis, the characters are as follows: Bill, short and triangular; 

 o-ape, wide, nearly as much so as in the Hirundinidae. Wings, quite long. Tail, square and not emarginate. 

 Sternum, quite similar to that of the preceding family. The expansion of the furcula does not approach the 

 keel nearly as closely, however, and the tip of the keel is not as pointed, neither does it project as far 

 forward. Marginal indentations of Ampelidae are deeper than those of the SwalLiws. and the coracoid bones 

 are not set on at such a wide angle. A peculiar family, whose proper place in the systematist's catalogue is 

 at present doubtful. 



GENUS I. AMPELIS. THE WAXWINGS. 



Gen. Ch. Head, crested. Plumage, soft, silky and well-hlended. Tips of secondaries, provided with 

 a horny expansion, which resembles red sealing-wax. Sternal characters, as described above. 



This is a singular genus, which should, judging from the anatomical aud osteological characters, be 

 placed quite near the order Clamatores. Still tlie sterna very closely resemble those of Hirundinidae. This 

 latter named family cannot be considered as claraatorial birds, but they are now, in my opinion, ])laced much 

 fartlier from this order (Clamatores) than is consistent with certain characters exhibited in the sterna, which 

 will be mentioned at some future time. 



AMPELIS CEDRORUM 

 Cedar Bird. 



Ampelis cedrorum Sclater, P. Z. S , li-ioCt, 2'J'J (Cordova). 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Form, robust. Size, medium. Bill, not large. Sternum, quite stnutly built. Tongue, 

 triangular, with the base fleshy, but becoming thin and horny, the tip being bifid and provided with coarse cilia. 



Color. Adult. Topof head and crest, deep bi'own. which gradually but imperceptibly changes along 

 the back into the slaty of the upper tail coverts and top of tail, which is tipi^ed with 3'ellow. Wings, with the 

 exposed portions, excepting the tips of primaries, slaty; remaining parts, dark brown. Chin, deep chocolate^ 

 gradually changing along the under parts into the pale yellow of the abdomen. Under wing coverts and 

 axillaries, smoky-brown. Under tail coverts, dirty white. Secondaries, and occasionally the tail, tipped 

 with the red horny exp.ansion of the shaft of the feathers. Young birds are paler and generally lack the red 

 tips of the wings. The yellow marking of the tail is also narrower. Nestlings are not only quite slaty, but 

 are streaked longitudinally underneath with dusky. Sexes, similar. Irides, brown. Bill and feet, black 

 in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The well known Cedar Bii'd may readily be distinguished from Ampelis garruUis by the smaller size, 

 white under tail coverts and absence of white markings on the wings, but in reg.ard to this latter character it; 

 may be well to state that rarely syiecimens of A. cedrorum may be found, with longitudinal stripes of white on 

 the tijjs of the primaries, although I never saw any indications of a white bar across the wings. The young 

 generally lack the red tippings of the secondaries, yet I have seen nestlings which were provided with them 

 on both wings and tail. The proportion of adults which have red-tipped tails is, as far as I have observed. 



