108 PASSERES, AMPELID^E. 



GENUS AMPELIS. (LiNN.) 



Until recently, the genus before us was known 

 only by two species, one of which is spread over 

 Europe, the northern parts of Asia as far as 

 Japan, and the western portion of North America, 

 as far as the Rocky Mountains ; and the other in- 

 habits the Atlantic side of the last-named conti- 

 nent, extending from Canada to Mexico. A third 

 species has, however, of late years, been discover- 

 ed, of much more limited range, being confined 

 to the remote islands of Japan. 



The distinctive characters of this genus may be 

 thus summed up ; the beak short, strong, elevated, 

 broad at the base, the upper mandible curved to- 

 wards its extremity, with a strongly marked notch ; 

 the gape very wide ; the nostrils oval, covered at 

 the base with feathers, or strong hairs, directed for- 

 wards ; the wings moderately long, with the first, or 

 the first and second quills longest ; the tail short and 

 nearly even ; the feet rather short, plumed slightly 

 below the heel, the outmost and middle toes con- 

 nected. The plumage of the head forms a long 

 and pointed crest, capable of being erected, which 

 is common to both sexes. Two of the species, at 

 least, are distinguished by having singular appen- 

 dages to the secondaries of the wing, .and some- 

 times to the feathers of the tail ; the shaft of the 

 feather being prolonged beyond the vane, and its 

 tip dilated into a flat oval appendage, of a bril- 

 liant scarlet hue, and exactly resembling in ap- 

 pearance red sealing-wax. Hence these birds are 

 frequently know r n by the name of Wax- wings, as 

 from the silky softness and smoothness of the 



