AMPELINiE. 



Cochoa Hodgs* 



Bill rather long, rather depressed, and broad at the base, with the culmen gradually curved, and the 

 sides compressed to the tip, which is eraarginated and slightly hooked ; the gonys very short and as- 

 cending ; the nostrils lateral, and placed in a membranous groove, with the frontal feathers projecting 

 to the opening, which is large and oval. Wings long, with the first quill shorter than the second, third, 

 and fourth, which are equal and longest. Tail long, broad, and rounded. Tarsi rather shorter than the 

 middle toe, and covered by broad scales in front. Toes long and slender, with the outer toe rather longer 

 than the inner, and slightly united at the base, the hind toe very long ; the claws moderate, compressed, 

 curved, and acute. 



The species are found in Nepal, and the Indian Archipelago. Mr. Hodgson says of the Nepalcse birds that " they are 

 shy in their manners, adhere exclusively to the woods, live solitary or in pairs, and feed almost equally on the ground 

 and on trees. The food consists of stony berries, small univalve mollusca, and sundry kinds of aquatic insects." 



1. C. viridis Hodgs. Journ. A. S. B. 1836. p. 359- 



2. C. purpurea Hodgs. Journ. A. S. B. 1836. p. 359-— C. Hodg- 

 soni Blyth. 



3. C. azurea (Temm.) PL col. 274. — Type of Oreas Temm. 

 (1840). 



Procnias Hoffm.-f 



Bill moderate, much depressed, and very broad at the base, with the culmen slightly curved, and the 

 sides compressed to the tip, which is emarginated ; the gonys very short, and ascending ; the nostrils 

 lateral, and placed in a membranous groove, with the frontal plumes projecting to the opening, which is 

 large and oval. Wings rather long, with the third and fourth quills equal and longest. Tail moderate, 

 and slightly emarginated. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, and covered in front with transverse scales. 

 Toes long, with the outer toe rather longer than the inner, and united at the base, the hind toe long and 

 strong. 



The species of this genus reside in the forests of the tropical parts of America. Their habits and manners are like 

 those of the Cotingce, but 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 ; while the note of another species has been compared to the noise produced by a hammer 

 striking on an anvil. 



1. P. variegata (Linn.) PI. col. 51., Cuv. Regne Anim. t. 4. f. 4. 



2. P. alba (Thunb.) Mem. de la Soc. de Mosc. 1823. p. 177- — 

 Procnias nudicollis Pr. Max., PL col. 368. 383. ; Casmarhynchus 

 ecarunculatus Spin, Av. Bras. t. 4. 



3. P. nivea (Bodd.) PL enl. 793. — Ampelis carunculata Gmel, 

 Le Vaill. Ois. d'Amer. et Ind. t. 39, 40. 



* Mr. Hodgson established this genus in 1836 (Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1836. p. 360). He changed the name to Prosorinia in 1841 : 

 Oreas of M. Temminck (1840) is synonymous. 



t Hoffmansegg established this genus, which was adopted by llliger in 1811. (Prod. Syst. Mam. et Av.). Casmarhynchus of M. Tem- 

 minck (1820), and Arapunga and Averano of M. Lesson (1831) are synonymous. 



December, 1846. 



