Le? DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS II. AVES 
The same writer states that its numbers were, in his time, considerably 
diminished, and adds, — 
* I do not know whether this circumstance is because a price is set on its 
head, or on account of its naturally small degree of fecundity.” 
In size, this bird nearly equals a thrush; its bill is rather large, straight, 
conical, and with the edges serrated ; the tail is moderate and rounded. The 
color is dusky-gray upon the back, rather clearer on the under surface; the 
points of the quills and the tail are black. Its voice is a hoarse, interrupted 
note. 
Famiry Ampetip&. Tre CHATTERERS. 
The group is divided as follows : — 
AMPELID-E. | thick and convex, not compressed ; second primary abbreviated in the males. PSARINE. 
BT oes (a ane ( broad at base, compressed tow ards tip; second primary not abbreviated, . . AMPEKLINA, 
The Ampeline of Lilljeborg corresponds apparently to the Cotingida, 
or Chatterers, of other authors. Of the Cotingas, there are a great many 
species : they are showy birds, residing in the tropical portions of America, 
especially on the trees that grow by the sides of the rivers. They feed on 
fruits and insects, and are thus compelled to migrate from place to place 
in search of their food. The female deposits four eggs, and the nest is 
found in the highest branches of trees. 
Nearly allied to, if not included in this croup, are the species of Procnias 
(Bell Birds). These birds reside in the tropical forests of America ; in hab- 
its they resemble the Cot/ngw, and some species “ possess a very loud and 
powerful voice, which may be heard a great distance, and is said to vary 
according to the season. It is stated that the noise uttered by one of these 
birds is like the tolling of a distant church bell, which is more distinctly 
heard during the heat of the day, when every other bird has ceased to sing. 
This bird utters a toll, and a minute pause ensues; then another toll, with a 
repetition of the pause, and then again a toll, and so on: the note of an- 
other species has been compared to the noise produced by striking a hammer 
on an anvil.” 
Of the Psarine, or Beeards, Gray gives the following account, when 
treating of the genus 7vtyra: — 
“The birds that compose this genus are found in the warmer parts of 
South America and the islands of the West Indies. They migrate from 
place to place, and are usually seen perched on the highest branches of the 
lofty trees of the primeval forests. Insects form their chief subsistence 5 
these they capture by short flights, and return again to the same perch to 
watch for others passing within a certain ranee. 
