564 



PASSEBINES. 



they also feed on flies and the larvae of insects. They differ from 

 the preceding kinds both in their habitat and in the more sombre 

 colour of their plumage. The Cotingas are only met with in 

 America ; and the Caterpillar- eaters are not found except in 

 Southern Africa and the Indian Archipelago. 



The CHATTERERS (Ampelidte) are sociable birds, living together 

 in flocks the whole of the year, except during the breeding season. 

 They feed on buds, berries, and insects ; they even catch flies on 

 the wing. They are, nevertheless, extremely indolent, and do not 

 move about more than is necessary to satisfy the requirements 

 of appetite. The greater part of their time they remain hid in 

 the recesses of woods, and are rarely seen ; they settle little on 

 the ground, for their gait is awkward and constrained. Not 



Fig. 266. Bohemian Waxwing (Ampehs garrulus, Wood). 



endowed, properly speaking, with any powers of song, their only 

 utterance is a feeble twittering, which, in some species, is very 

 prolonged. The Bohemian Waxwing is noisy at all seasons ; 

 and this is probably the origin of the name Chatterer, which is 

 given to the whole genus. They are tamed with great facility, 

 and, as they are adorned with a brilliant plumage, they are often 

 reared in cages. These birds are found in Europe, North America, 

 and Japan. 



The European species (Fig. 266) breeds in northern countries, 



