

AMPELINiE. 



moderate, and rather emarginated in the middle. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, and covered in front 

 Avith broad scales. Toes long, with the lateral toes nearly equal ; the claws long, curved, and acute. 



It is in the tropical portions of America that the typical species of this genus is found. 



T. centralis (111.) — Ampelis tersa Linn. ; Tersina coerulea | Zool. 111. pi. 28. ; Tersa cayana Steph., Lath. Hist, of B. pi. 85*., 

 Vieitt. ; Procnias cyanoptera Pr. Max. • P. hirundinacea Swains., \ PI. col. 5. 



Ampelis Linn.* 



Bill short, slightly depressed, and the base broad, with the culmen gradually curved, and the sides 

 compressed to the tip, which is emarginated ; the gonys short, and curved upwards ; the nostrils lateral, 

 with the opening rounded, and concealed by the frontal plumes. Wings long, with the second quill the 

 longest, the first longer than the third. Tail moderate and nearly even. Tarsi shorter than the middle 

 toe, and covered in front with broad scales. Toes moderate, with the lateral toes nearly even, and the 

 outer one slightly united at the base, the hind toe moderate and strong ; the claws rather short, com- 

 pressed, much curved, and acute. 



They inhabit the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and North America, and are migratory according to the seasons, 

 appearing in the more temperate parts of Europe and America on the approach of winter, and returning to their old 

 haunts on the appearance of summer. They are usually observed in small parties, but sometimes they assemble in large 

 flocks of many hundred individuals, especially if on their migrations. Their food consists of various kinds of fruits, and 

 as the fruits become scarce they feed on insects ; these they take by flying after them until their prey is secured, 

 when they return again to the same perch, for the purpose of watching the approach of another insect. The nest is 

 placed in the fork of a tree, at a distance of a few feet from the ground : it is composed of coarse grass, and lined 

 interiorly with very fine grass, on which are deposited three or four eggs. 



1. A. garrulus Linn. PI. enl. 261., Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 160., 

 Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. t. 4-9. — Borabycilla bohemica Briss. ; Bom- 

 byciphora poliocephala Meyer, Pr. Bonap. Amer. Orn. pi. 16. f. 2. ? 

 Audub. B. of Amer. pi. 363. ? 



2. A.japonica (Siebold) Bull, de Sci. Nat. 1825. p. 87.— Bom- 

 byeilla phcenicoptera Temm., PI. col. 450. 



3. A. cedrorum (Vieill.) Ois. d'Am. Sept. t. 57., Gal. des Ois. 

 t. 118., Edwards's Birds, pi. 242., Wils. Am. Orn. pi. 7- f. I., 

 Audub. B. of Amer. pi, 43., Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. t. 50. 



CoTINGA.f 



Bill moderate, depressed, and the base broad, with the culmen gradually curved, and the sides 

 compressed to the tip, which is emarginated; the gonys long, and slightly ascending; the nostrils lateral, 

 and placed in a membranous groove, with the frontal feathers projecting to the opening, which is large 

 and oval. Wings rather long, with the first four quills narrowed, especially the two first, the second and 

 third equal and longest, the first and fourth equal, and rather shorter than the two last mentioned. Tail 



* Linnteus established this genus in 1735. Bombycilla of Vieillot (1807), Bombyciphora of Meyer (1810), and Bombycivora of 

 M. Temminck (1815), are synonymous with the name employed, 

 t Brisson established this genus in 1760 (Ornithologie, ii. p. 339.). 



6 A 



