CHATTERERS. 107 



of the Horticultural Society. A Flycatcher built 

 in his stove several successive years. He ob- 

 served that the bird quitted its eggs whenever 

 the thermometer in the house was above 72, 

 and resumed her place upon the nest again, when 

 the thermometer sunk below." * 



The eggs are four or five in number, of a 

 greyish-white hue, marked with pale orange- 

 brown spots. 



FAMILY IV. AMPELID^E. 



(Chatterers.) 



The beak in this Family is more stout in pro- 

 portion to its length than in the preceding, ap- 

 proaching, especially in the form of the lower 

 mandible, to that of the Conirostres ; the upper 

 mandible is, however, somewhat broad at the 

 base, flat, with the superior edge more or less 

 angular and ridged, and the tip distinctly notched. 

 The feet are usually stout, with the outer toe 

 united to the middle one, as far as, or beyond 

 the first joint. 



The species composing this Family, though not 

 very numerous, are of various forms, and are 

 widely scattered over the globe. Many of them 

 are distinguished for the soft and silky character 

 of their plumage, and for the brilliant colours 

 with which it is adorned ; and not a few for un- 

 usual appendages, either to some of the feathers, 

 or to the skin of the body. They feed prin- 

 cipally on berries, and other soft fruits ; occa- 

 sionally also on insects. 



* Brit. Birds, i. 174. 



