290 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



some are mottled with black and white. They have a moderately 

 long, straight, sharp, and conical bill, lengthened wings, a short tail, 

 and a moderately long tarsus. They associate in small flocks, 

 feeding on various insects chiefly ; and nidificate either on the 

 ground, or on trees and bushes. They have no regular song. On 

 the whole their habits are much those of the Tits, and they evi- 

 dently grade into Acanthiza, Zosterops, and others of the slender- 

 billed section of the Leiotrichince, some of which are, indeed, placed 

 by Gray in this sub-family, in defiance of geographical distribution. 

 The Piprin^: or Manakins are mostly small birds, with a short, 

 thick, well-curved bill, with the nares concealed, a short tail, and 

 the tarsi rather long, with the outer toe much joined to the middle 

 one. They are said to asssociate in flocks, feed both on insects 

 and on fruits, are very active in their movements ; and many 

 are adorned with rich colours. They are somewhat akin to the 

 Pardaloti. The beautiful Cock of the Bock, Rupicola of South 

 America, belongs to this sub-family, and is said to breed in holes 

 in rocks or caverns, and to lay white eggs. This last trait approxi- 

 mates it to some of the Eurylaimi ; and the pretty Calyptomena 

 viridis of Malacca and Java, which has been found lately in 

 Tenasserim, is usually placed next the South American genus. 

 (vide vol. I, p. 239.) If this last is not a type of the Eurylaimidee, 

 it perhaps ought to be placed near Cochoa. (vide p. 242). 



The Ampelin^e, Gray, (CoHngina, Botiap.) are peculiar to 

 America, and chiefly to the more tropical parts of that Continent. 

 They are very varied in form and colour, but mostly have a 

 moderately short, rather broad bill, with a wide gape devoid of 

 bristles, and often notched at the tip; nostrils usually exposed ; 

 long and pointed wings ; a short tail and short tarsus, with feet 

 fitted for perching. They live much on fruit, and some appear not 

 a little to resemble the eastern Bulbuls, whilst others rival or excel 

 in brilliancy of plumage our Orioles and Blue-birds (Irena): such 

 are the Cotinga and Pompadour chatterers, and their allies, clothed 

 in glistening blue and purple, a few of which are not unlike some 

 of the Eurylaimi. 



Gymnoderin^E of Gray, comprise some very remarkable birds of 

 rather large size, some having the face or neck bare, whilst one of 



