LEIOTRICHIN^. 24l 



others feed readily on buds, and many chiefly live on insects, 

 though freely partaking of vegetable matter. I differ much from 

 Gray and various other Ornithologists, in the extent of this group, 

 in which strangely, as it appears to me, the Dicrurince and the 

 ArtamiruB are placed, and, perhaps, with more show of justice, 

 the Campeplwginm, one group of which does evince considerable 

 affinities for some of the Ampelidce. 



Gray divides them into Pachycephalince, including many Indian 

 forms with a few Australian; Piprince, A mpelince, and Gymnoderince, 

 the last three strictly American (except the Malayan Calyptornena) ; 

 and the three sub-families above, which I have placed among the 

 Shrikes. I include in it, besides the American sub-families Ampe- 

 lince, Piprince and Vireonince, the Mniotiltince, Gray, the Oceanic 

 Pachi/cephalinoe (with Pardalotus), the Asiatic Leiotrichiii(£, the 

 Parince, and Accentorince. 



Nearly all, Avith the exception of one group of doubtful location, 

 are strictly arboreal, and some of them have large strong feet, well 

 fitted for clinging to branches. A few of them approach the 

 Shrikes, from which they may be distinguished by their mixed diet, 

 and more variegated colors ; and some, chiefly American, resemble 

 the short-legged Thrushes ; many are very similar to Warblers, with 

 which they probably unite, but are recognizable by a more conic 

 and pointed bill, in general a peculiar mode of coloration, and 

 stronger feet, with shorter tarsus; some few have been placed as 

 Fly-catchers, but differ by their mixed diet and much stouter bill ; 

 and, lastly, the Accentors evince some affinities for the Finches and 

 Larks, some of the members of the same family also approximating 

 the Thrushes. 



Sub-fam. Leioteichiinle. 



Bill usually short, more or less wide at the base, lengthened 

 and slightly curved in a few, entire in some, notched in others ; 

 tail short or moderate, even or slightly rounded ; tarsi short, stout ; 

 feet strong, claAvs moderately curved, sharp. 



This family, allowed by all Ornithologists to belong to the 

 Ampelidoe, is, according to our views, composed chiefly of birds 

 confined to Himalayas, and the hill ranges to the South-east, 

 extending through "Burmah. There are, however, a few exceptions. 



2 H 



