'/..VMS BIRD. 77 



FAMILY X. AMPELHXE. THE CHATTERERS. 



Bated mainly upon the single genus Ampelis, the characters are as follows: Bill, short and triangular; gape, wide, 

 nearly as much so as in the Ilirundinidtr. Wings, quite long. Tail, square and nut emarginate.. Sternum, quite similar 

 to that of tht preceding family. The expansion of the furcula does not approach the keel nearly as closely, however, and 

 the tip i if ttir ki tl is not as pointed, neither does it project as far forward. Marginal indentations of Ampelidat are deeper 

 than those of the .ViriiMurs, and the coracoid bones are not set on at such a wide angle. 



A peculiar family, whose proper place in the systematlst's catalogue is at present doubtful. 



GENUS I. AMPELIS. THE WAXW1NGS. 



GEN. Cn. Head, crested. Plumage, soft, silky, and well blended. Tipsof secondaries, provided with a horny expansion, 

 which rrsemiili-s ml M iiliny-irar. MiTiittl characters, as described above. 



Tliis is a singular genus which should, judging from the anatomical and osteologlcal characters, be placed quite 

 near thr order <'ln>nntorea. Still the sterna very closely resemble those of llirundinida:. This latter named family 

 cannot be .-i>nsiili -n -<\ as clamatorial birds, but they are now in my opinion placed much farther from this order 

 (Clumatureg') than is consistent with certain characters exhibited in the sterna which will be mentioned at some 

 future time. 



AMPELIS CEDRORUM. 



Cedar Bird. 

 Ampelis cedrorum SCLATEB, P. Z. S., 1856, 299 (Cordova). 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, medium. Bill, not large. Sternum, quite stoutly built. Tongue, triangular, 

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



COLOR. Adult. Top of head and crest, deep brown, which gradually but imperceptibly changes along the back 

 into the slaty of the upper tail coverts and top of tail, which is tipped with yellow. 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 axillarics, 

 smoky-brown. Under tail coverts, dirty-white. Secondaries, and occasionally the tail, tipped with the red horny 

 expansion of the shaft of the feathers. 



Young birds are paler and generally lack the red tips of the wings. The yellow marking of the tall is also 

 narrower. 



Xestlinys 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 Bird may readily be distinguished from Ampelis garrula by the smaller size, white under 

 tail coverts and absence of white markings on the wings, but in regard to this latter character It may be well to 

 state that rarely specimens of A. cedrorum may be found, with longitudinal stripes of white on the tips of the 

 primaries, although I never saw any indications of a white bar upon 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, about one per cent., while those with 

 white markings on the wings are much rarer. Some localities appear to produce many specimens in both of these 

 conditions, whereas they are scarcely to be found in others. I have collected quite a number thus marked about 

 Newton. Mass., yet I never found a single specimen at Ipswich. I can find no difference between individuals taken 

 in Florida and those taken in New England, excepting that I never saw one from the former locality which hail I lie 

 red tippings, and I have taken a considerable number there. Distributed as a resident species or an irregular 

 migrant throughout North America north to Hudson's Bay. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of thirty-two specimens. Length, 7-20; stretch, ll'GS; wing, 2-75; tail, 2-25; bill, -42; 

 tarsus, -f>5. Longest specimen, 7-50; greatest extent'of wings, 12-25; longest wing, 4-00; tall, 2-75; bill, -45; 

 tarsus, -70. Shortest specimen, 6-75; smallest extent of wings, 11-00; shortest wing, 3-60; tail, 2-00; bill, -27; 

 tarsus, -L'J. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Xests, composed of cedar hark, fibrous roots and dried grasses, lined with finer roots or grasses. Dimensions : 

 external diameter, 4 inches, internal, 3; external depth, 3 inches, internal, 2-50. 



