THE AMPELID.E. 355 



Family V. 

 The Ampelid^e, or Fruit-Eaters. 



The fifth primary division of the Dentirodral Insessores, 

 distinguished by a short bill and wide gape — something like 

 the swallows — to enable them to swallow the large berries and 

 fruit on which they live. 



In all the typical genera the hairs that fringe the mouths 

 of the Lanidoe and other insectivorous groups are wanting. 

 They are strictly perching birds, seldom on the ground; legs 

 and toes short — the toes more or less joined at the base, the 

 soles broad and rough to give firmer grasp. They are nearly all 

 restricted to warmer climates than Europe — the typical genera 

 in South America, where, in the thick and extensive forests, 

 they find an ample supply of fruits and berries. The only 

 member of the family found in Europe — at least in Britain — 

 is the wax wing, Bombacylla Garrula, and only occasionally, 

 but as I never saw it here I cannot call it a St Andrews bird,, 

 although sometimes flocks of them are dispersed over Britain, 

 and feed on the berries of the mountain ash and others. One 

 was seen at Inverness, another caught at Rothesfield, Markinch, 

 on the 11th March 1893, and stuffed. 



A Rake Bird. — Mr Osgood H. Mackenzie, of Inverewe, writes as follows : 

 — *' A few days ago I was told by my servants that they had seen a curious 

 bird in the Tournaig Garden, near here. Its crest seemed to have made a 

 great impression on them, and so I fancied it might have been a hoopoe : 

 but, fortunately, two days later, I saw it myself in the grounds here, 

 apparently eating the few remaining berries on the Cotoneaster Simoni 

 bushes. I could not fail to recognise the stranger the instant I saw him^ 

 and though I had never before come across a living bird of this species, 

 I knew it at once to be the Bohemian waxwing or chatterer. It was 

 extremely tame — quite sociable, in fact, and kept following me about and 

 perching within a few yards of me ; the brilliant yellow tips of its tail 

 feathers and the crimson patches on its wings making it very striking in 

 the bright sunshine. Occasionally it raised its crest, and in many ways 

 it reminded me of the jay. I might easily have shot it, but could not make 

 up my mind to fetch my gun, as it was so confiding. I have never before 

 heard of the waxwing in this neighbourhood, though other rare birds, such 

 as the rose-coloured pastor and the golden oriole, occasionally visit us. A 

 few years ago I saw a male oriole in my birch wood, and a few days 

 subsequently, early one morning, I heard its unmistakable and melodious 

 notes in the same place, reminding me so of the cedar forests of the 

 Algerian Atlas, where they were so abundant and where I had last heard 

 their sweet songs. I shall hope soon, through the medium of the Chronicle, 



