P R C N I A S hirimdacea. 

 Swallow Fridt-eatei\ 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum breve, trigonum, basl latissimum, dilatatum, versus apicem contractum ; 

 mandibulis emarginatis ; marginibus introflexis ; mandibula superiore, to- 

 miis curvatis, carinatis; inferiure recta, breviore. Nares lata, basaleSy 

 subnuda; aperturis orbiculatis, approximantibus, apicem quam malum ma- 

 gis appropinquantibus. Lingua brevissimu, angusta. Rictus atnplissimi 

 infra oculos aperientes. Pedes insidentes. Ala mediocres. 

 Typus Genericus Ampelis carunculata. Latham. 



Bill short, triangular, base very broad, dilated, towards the end contracted ; 

 both mandibles notched, the margins bent inward ; upper mandible 

 slightly curved and carinated above ; lower mandible straight and 

 shortest. Nostrils broad, basal, nearly naked, the aperture much 

 nearer the tip than the gape of the bill. Tongue very short, narrow. 

 Mouth very large, opening beneath the eye. Feet formed for perch- 

 ing. Wings moderate. 



Generic Type Carunculated Chatterer. Latham. 



Specific Character. 



P.(inmaribus) carulea; fronte, jugulo, temporibusque nigris; corpore subtus 

 in medio albo, lateribus striis transversis nigrescentibus. 



(Fam.) viridis; inento temporibusque gi'iseis ; corpore infra Jlavescente, striis 

 obscurc-viridibus transversis. 



(Male) blue ; front, throat, and temples black ; middle of the body beiicath 

 white, the sides with blackish transverse striae. 



(Female) green ; chin and temples grey ; body beneath yellowish, trans- 

 versely striated with dusky-green. 



1 HE birds of this genus are remarkable for the enormous width 

 of their mouths, which in some species exceeds that of the Swal- 

 low family, thus enabling them with ease to swallow the large 

 berries of the Melastom& and other tropical shrubs, on which 

 they alone subsist; not on insects, as Cuvier asserts. Although 

 PI. 2L 



