500 APPENDIX. 



Family, AMPELIDCE. 



The discovery of the genus Pteruthius, for a knowledge of which we are indebted to 

 Mr. Gould, the Animal Preserver to the Zoological Society, has enabled us to confirm all 

 we venture to express on the aberrant divisions of this family. The chain of affinity between 

 the Bombycillince and the Piprin<s is now rendered unquestionable by the intervention of 

 the Pachycephalince and the Leiotrichanoe. The strong Shrike-like bill of the genus Pteru- 

 thius, which has induced Mr. Vigors to call it a Lanius, is at once explained by the sup- 

 position of this being a Dentirostral type. An examination of its syndactyle feet, perfectly 

 similar to those of Leiothrix, proves that this singular bird has not the most remote affinity 

 to the genus wherein it has been placed. The intervening types of the aberrant division, 

 few in the number of their species, but highly interesting in reference to their analogical 

 relations, are named and characterized in Appendix No. I. 



Family, CORVID^. 



The analysis of the Ampelidce, which is the Tenuirostral family of the Dentirostres, has 

 thrown considerable light, as might be expected, upon the nature of the corresponding group 

 in the Corvidce. We feel persuaded that the Coracin^e, comprehending the genera Coracina, 

 Vieill, Cephalopterus, Geoff., and one or two others, truly belong to this family, and not 

 to the Ampelidce, as supposed by Le Vaillant. They represent, in fact, the Fruit-eaters 

 among the Crows. 



The five leading divisions are now, as it were, perfect, since they represent all the tribes, 

 families, and genera of the order Insessores. The long, conic, compressed, corvine bill of 

 the Coratince, setting aside their large size and gregarious habits, offers a marked distinction 

 between them and the genuine Ampelidce. 



The marked liberality of the zoologists attached to the British Museum, who have thrown 

 open, without reserve or jealousy, the whole of the national collection to our unrestrained use, 

 has enabled us to add the following new species to the Fauna of Northern America ; speci- 

 mens, authenticated as coming from Hudson's Bay, existing in that valuable repository of 

 science. 



