232 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



AMPELI DM.— FR UIT-EA TERS. 



In the group of Ampelidce there are fewer species than in any one family of the 

 Dentirostres, and consequently the investigation of their affinities is attended 

 with unusual difficulty*. It is, therefore, with considerable doubts on the true 

 nature of the aberrant divisions, that we offer the following- table as exhibiting 

 some approximation to the truth. 



AMPELIDjE. 



Sub-families. 



ince. 



1. f Mouth excessively wide ; feet short, strong ; toes | 



Typical group. \ nearly free. J " 



_ , . ' , \ Mouth smaller ; feet longer, weaker ; syndactyle. Piprinrs 



Sub-typical group. J J J r 



{Wings short, rounded; rictus bristled ; feet strong; 

 toes nearly free. 

 ***** 

 Wings very long, pointed; toes free; rictus smooth. . 



LeiotrichancE. 



Bombycillinas. 



The typical distinctions of the whole group appear to consist in the shortness of 

 the bill and the excessive width of the mouth, by which latter structure these birds 

 can swallow large berries, and even fruits of a moderate size, in an entire state. 

 They never alight upon the ground, but are continually moving about the 

 branches of trees : the feet are consequently very short, the soles broad, and the 

 toes more or less united at the base. The rictal bristles, which protect the mouth 

 of all insectivorous groups, in this are totally wanting ; except in such forms as 

 lead off to the Warblers on one side, and to the Fly-catchers on the other. With 

 very few exceptions, the whole family is confined to the New World. 



The two typical groups, as usual, contain by far the largest proportion of the 

 genera; and hence it is that, from having analysed their contents, we can venture 



* It has been ludicrously enough imagined, that the fewer are the forms which enter into a group, the more easily 

 can they be arranged according to a natural system ; just, perhaps, " as a chain is more connected in proportion to the 

 number of links that are wanting ! " — See Mr. W. S. Mac Leap's Examination of Mr. Bicheno's Paper on Systems 

 and Methods, in Zool. Journ., No. xvi., p. 413, &c. — Sw. 



