Family, AMPELIDjE.
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 Bombycillirus and the Piprince is now rendered unquestionable by the intervention of
the Pachycephalince and the Leiotricharue. 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 supposition
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, CORVIDAE.
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 Corvida. We feel persuaded that the C oracin^ , 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 I n se sso r es. The long, conic, compressed, corvine bill of
the Coradncs, 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 thrown1
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; specimens,
authenticated as coming from Hudson’s Bay, existing in that valuable repository of
science.
S c o l o p a x l e u c u r u s . (Swainson.) White-tailed Snipe.
Ge n u s , Scolopax.
Ch . Sp . S colopax l e u c u r u s , rectricibus sedecem: lateralibus albis basi extus bis terve nigro fa&ciatis; abdomine
transverse fascia to.
S p . Ch . W h it e -t a il e d Sn ip e , tail of sixteen feathers: the three lateral ones pure white, with 2—3 basal black
bands on the outer w eb; belly transversely banded.
A single specimen of this bird, in fine and perfect plumage, exists in the
British Museum. It is readily distinguished from all those which we have here
described, by the great proportion of white in the tail feathers, and by having
the middle of the body distinctly crossed by dusky black lines.—Sw.
DESCRIPTION
Of a specimen, from Hudson’s Bay, in the British Museum.
C olour.—Plumage of Sc. Drummondii and Wilsonii, except that the belly is barred with
blackish-grey, two or three bars on each feather. Tail: three or four outer pairs of feathers
white, with one or two irregular blackish bars near the bases of the outer webs; three central
pairs black, with a broad ferruginous bar near the end, separated from the narrow white tip
by a black line. Bill and legs brownish (in the dried specimen).
F orm.—Bill much like that of Sc. Drummondii, but scarcely so much dilated at the point,
and stouter at the base. Second quill equal with the first. Tail, of sixteen feathers, considerably
rounded; the three outer pairs of feathers diminishing successively in breadth, but
not much; the outer ones having about three-fourths of the breadth of the middle ones.
Tarsus longer than in the two species just mentioned.
Dimensions.
Length, total. . 10
Lin.
6 Length of bill above . . 2
Lin.
5 Length of middle claw
Inch. Lin.
„ excluding bill . . 0 3 „ of tail . 8 6 ,, of bill to rictus . 2 4* „ of hind toe . 0 4* „ of wing . 2 2 ’,-, of tarsus . 1 4* „ of hind claw , 0 2* • 5 4 „ of middle toe 1 H