This pretty little bird, under different varieties of plumage, appears to be scattered over the greatest part of tropical America, and is one of the most common of its tribe. The best, and indeed the only detailed account of its economy, is given by M. Vieillot; who remarks, that its nest is suspended on the tops of those tall climbing plants, which, in those countries, form a matting over the most lofty trees: the entrance to the nest is at the bottom; the interior is divided into two compartments, in one of which only the young are contained. It feeds both on small insects, and the nectar of flowers. All the above synonyms refer to the different varieties authors have enumerated of this species. Most of these have a white spot at the base of the exterior quills; others vary in having the throat entirely black; and some again have a yellow rump; but none of these agree with the variety here figured, which I believe came from Trinidad. Probably a more perfect knowledge of these supposed varieties will show they contain two or three distinct species. Notwithstanding the shortness of the bill, this is a decided _Nectarinia_, according to a natural, but not an artificial arrangement. It forms, in some degree, a passage from the shining coloured _Nectariniae_ of America, to the short-billed _Melliphagae_ of the southern hemisphere. On a future occasion I shall offer more detailed observations on the genus _Dicaeum_ of Cuvier. The figure is the size of life; and, with the specific character, renders a further description unnecessary. * * * * * Pl. 143 [Illustration] AMPULLARIA sordida, _Brown Apple Snail_ _f. 1. 2._ * * * * * GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 103. * * * * * SPECIFIC CHARACTER. _A. testa globosa, ferruginea, lineis transversis subcarinatis instructa aperturae margine tenui; umbilico magno; operculo corneo?_ Shell globose, ferruginous, with obsolete transverse subcarinated lines; margin of the aperture thin; umbilicus large; operculum horny? * * * * * The only species of _Ampullaria_ with which this may be confounded is _A. fasciata_, p. 103, in comparison with which it is a more globose shell, the aperture narrower, and the spire more obtuse; the umbilicus is larger, round, and not contracted; the suture is not sunk, the shell is not banded with coloured lines, nor is the surface smooth; on the contrary, it is marked with transverse, obscurely carinated lines; while the shell is uniform brown, the aperture within is white, margined with brown. * * * * * AMPULLARIA puncticulata _Oval, punctured Apple Snail_ _A. testa ovata, subtilissime punctata; spira obtusa; labii exterioris margine, interiorisque basi rufis, incrassatis; operculo corneo?_