BOMBYCILLA, a genus of Tooth-Billed Birds (Dentirostres). Cuvier places the genus among the Dentirostral genera of his second order Passereaux ; Latreille also arranges it under that order, but does not allow it to belong to the Dentirostres, and classes it among his first family, that of the Broad-Billed Birds (Latirostres). Temminck, con sidering it to be an omnivorous bird, finds a place for it under the name of Bonthydrora, in his second order Ornnirores. .Vieillot's second order (Sylvicoks) contains two tribes; and in the sixteenth family (Baccirori) of the second tribe (Anisodactyli), the genus in question will be found. Vigors places it in the second tribe Denti rostres of his eecond order, Insessores, or Perching Birds ; and after some hesitation, and expressing his doubt whether its natural situation is not iu the family Merulidce, is inclined to arrange it provisionally among the Pipridcr, his last family of Denaroseres. Bonaparte makes it a genus of his family Bericati. Swainson, in the ' Fauna Bereali Americana,' arranges it under his Bombycillime, a subfamily belonging to the aberrant group of his A mpelithe, or Fruit-Eaters ; but in giving his table of Ampelithr, he expresses considerable doubts on the true nature of the aberrant divisions. Linnaeus at one time made it a Butcher-Bird (Lanius), and afterwards an A mpelis. Brisson classed it among the Thrushes (Turdus), and Illiger among the Crows (Corrus).
The birds of this genus are known by the English names of Wax Wings or Waxen-Chatterers ; and the following are the principal generic characters according to Temminck:— Bill short, straight, elevated ; upper mandible curved towards its extremity, with a strongly marked tooth ; nostrils basal, ovoid, open, hidden by strong hairs directed forwards ; feet, with three toes before and one behind, the exterior toe connected (soucld) with the middle one ; wings moderate, the first and second quills longest.
Only three species have been recorded. The first has a wide geographical range ; tho second is confined to North America ; and the third is Oriental Some of the species fly very rapidly, and make their appearance in the day-time as well as in the evening. The caterpillars of most of
the species are hairy (some produce great irritation to the hand when touched), and assume the pupa state in a cocoon spun for its protection. The pupa is simple.
One of the most interesting of the family is the Bombyx Mori, well known as the moth to which the Silkworm turns. This species which was originally from China is of a white or cream colour, with a brown fascia and two or more waved lines of a deeper colour crossing the upper wings. In this country the eggs of this moth hatch early in May ; the caterpillar or silkworm is at first of a dark colour, but soon becomes light, and in its tints much resembles the perfect insect, a circumstance common in caterpillars. Its proper food is the mulberry, though it will likewise cat the lettuce and some few other plants ; ou the latter however it does not thrive equally well, and the silk yielded is of a poor quality.
B. garrula, European Wax-Wing or Chatterer. This elegant species, which is also known by the English names of the Bohemian Chatterer, Bohemian Wax-Wing and Silk-Tail, is Le Jaseur de Boh6me (Buffon, ke.), Grand Jaseur (Temminck), and Geay do Boh6me of the French; Germlo di 13oetnia of the Italians; ltothlichgrauor Seldenschwantz (Meyer), Europiiischer Seideuachwanz, and Gemeine Seidenachwanz (Bechsteio) of the Germans; Gamtlaa Bohemiettl of Gesuer ; Bonay dila of Schwenek. ; Ampelia of Aldrovand. ; Bombyeilla Bohemien of Brisson; Ampelia garrulua of Linnaeus ; Bombriphora garrula of Brehm ; ilottabyciphora polioefflia of Meyer ; Bombycirora garrula of Temminck; and Bombrilla garrula of Vieillot.
In addition to the nomenclature above given, the bird is said to be named by the Italians in some localities Becco-Frisone, in others, Galletto del Bosco; and by the bird-catchers of Bologna, Uccello del Hondo Novo; by the Germans, Zinzerclle, Wipstertz, Schoce-Vogel and Schnee-Leac)ike, and by those in the neighbourhood of Nurn berg, Beemerle and Behemle ; by the Swedes, Siden-Swantz ; and by the Bohemians, Brkoslaw.