164 



FAMILY XXIL— AMPELIN^E. CHATTERERS. 



Bill short, depressed, rather weak, triangular when viewed from above, 

 compressed at the end, its upper outline arched, the gap-line nearly straight, 

 the notches very small, the tip very small and declinate. Nostrils elliptical, 

 partially concealed by reversed bristly feathers. Head ovate; neck short; 

 body moderate or full. Feet short; tarsus short, rather stout, compressed; 

 toes rather small. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, acute. 

 Plumage generally blended and glossy. Wings of moderate length, broad. 

 Tail short or of moderate length. Roof of upper mandible rather concave, 

 with three longitudinal ridges; tongue horny, deeply slit; oesophagus very 

 wide, dilated about the middle; stomach small, elliptical, moderately muscular; 

 intestine of moderate length and very wide; coeca very small. Trachea 

 simple, with four pairs of very small inferior laryngeal muscles. 



Genus I.— BOMBYCILLA, Briss. WAXWING. 



Bill short, rather stout, straightish, broader than high at the base, com- 

 pressed towards the end;' upper mandible with its dorsal line convex and 

 declinate towards the tip, which is deflected, narrow, and rather acute, its 

 sides convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the notches distinct; lower 

 mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line convex and ascend- 

 ing, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip very small, acute, ascending, with 

 a small sinus behind; gap-line nearly straight. Nostrils oval, partially con- 

 cealed by the reversed stiffish feathers. Head of ordinary size, ovate; neck 

 short; body full. Feet rather short; tarsus short, rather stout, compressed, 

 with six scutella; toes of moderate size, first stout, broad beneath, outer 

 slightly adherent at the base; inner a little shorter. Claws rather long, 

 arched, much compressed, very acute. Plumage blended, very soft, some- 

 what silky, but with little gloss; head tufted; no bristles. Wings rather 

 long, broad, and pointed, the first quill longest. Tail of moderate length, 

 even. This genus is remarkable for the oblong bright red horny appendages 

 to the tips of the wings and tail-feathers, which, however, are not seen in all 



