CEDAR BIRD. 
77 
FAMILY X. AMPELIDiE. THE CHATTERERS. 
Based mainly upon the single genus Ampelis, the characters are as follows: Bill, short and triangular; gape, wide, 
nearly as much so as in the Hirundinulce. Wings, quite long. Tail, square and not emarginate. Sternum, quite similar 
to that of the preceding family. The expansion of the fur cut a does not approach the keel nearly as closely, however, and 
the tip of the keel is not as pointed, neither does it project as far forward. Marginal indentations of Ampelidce are deeper 
than those of the Swallows, and the coracoid bones are not set on at such a wide angle. 
A peculiar family, whose proper place in the systematist’s catalogue is at present doubtful. 
GENUS I. AMPELIS. THE WAXWINGS. 
Gen. Ch. Head, crested. Plumage, soft, silky, and well blended. Tips of secondaries, provided with a horny expansion, 
which resembles red, sealing-wax. Sternal characters, as described above. 
This is a singular genus which should, judging from the anatomical and osteological characters, be placed quite 
near the order Clamatores. Still the sterna very closely resemble those of Hirundinidce. This latter named family 
cannot be considered as clamatorial birds, but they are now in my opinion placed much farther from this order 
(Clamafores ) than is consistent with certain characters exhibited in the sterna which will be mentioned at some 
future time. 
AMPELIS CEDEORUM. 
Cedar Bird. 
Ampelis cedrorum Sclater, P. Z. S., 1856, 299 (Cordova). 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Form, robust. Size, medium. Bill, not large. Sternum, quite stoutly built. Tongue, triangular, 
with the base fleshy, but becoming thin and horny, the tip being bifid and provided with coarse cilia. 
Color. Adult. Top of head and crest, deep brown, which gradually but imperceptibly changes along the back 
into the slaty of the upper tail coverts and top of tail, which is tipped with yellow. Wings, with the exposed 
portions, excepting the tips of primaries, slaty; remaining parts, dark brown. Chiu, deep chocolate, gradually 
changing along the under parts into the pale yellow of the abdomen. Under wing coverts and axillaries, 
smoky-brown. Under tail coverts, dirty-white. Secondaries, and occasionally the tail, tipped with the red horny 
expansion of the shaft of the feathers. 
Young-birds are paler and generally lack the red tips of the wings. The yellow marking of the tail is also 
narrower. 
Nestlings are not only quite slaty, but are streaked longitudinally underneath with dusky. Sexes, similar. Irides, 
brown. Bill and feet, black in all stages. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
The well known Cedar Bird may readily be distinguished from Ampelis garrula by the smaller size, white under 
tail coverts and absence of white markings on the wings, but in regard to this latter character it may be well to 
state that rarely specimens of A. cedrorum may be found, with longitudinal stripes of white on the tips of the 
primaries, although I never saw any indications of a white bar upon the wings. The young generally lack the red 
tippings of the secondaries, yet I have seen nestlings which were provided with them on both wings and tail. The 
proportion of adults which have red tipped tails is, as far as I have observed, about one per cent., while those with 
white markings on the wings are much rarer. Some localities appear to produce many specimens in both of these 
conditions, whereas they are scarcely to be found in others. I have collected quite a number thus marked about 
Newton, Mass., yet I never found a single specimen at Ipswich. I can find no difference between individuals taken 
in Florida and those taken in New England, excepting that I never saw one from the former locality which had the 
red tippings, and I have taken a considerable number there. Distributed as a resident species or an irregular 
migrant throughout North America north to Hudson’s Bay. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of thirty-two specimens. Length, 7-20; stretch, 11-65; wing, 2-75; tail. 2-25; bill, -42-; 
tarsus, -65. Longest specimen, 7-50; greatest extent of wings, 12-25; longest wing, 4-00; tail, 2-75; bill, -45; 
tarsus, -70. Shortest specimen, 6-75; smallest extent of wings, 11-00; shortest wing, 3-60; tail, 2-00; bill,-27; 
tarsus, -25. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, composed of cedar bark, fibrous roots and dried grasses, lined with finer roots or grasses. Dimensions : 
external diameter, 4 inches, internal, 3; external depth, 3 inches, internal, 2-50. 
