76 TROGLODYTIDA. 
MICROCERCULUS. 
Microcerculus (section of Cyphorhinus), Sclater, Cat. Am. B. p. 19 (1862); Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. 
p. 113 (1864). (Type Turdus bambla, Bodd.) 
This name was first used by Mr. Sclater to designate a section of Cyphorhinus, and 
afterwards employed in a generic sense by Prof. Baird, who, however, was unable fully 
to describe some of the characters, owing to the imperfection of his specimens. 
Like Cyphorhinus, Microcerculus has a compressed bill, high at its base, but not so 
high or so much compressed as in that genus. The form of the nostril is quite diffe- 
rent, being partially covered by a membrane; the nostril itself touches the lower edge 
of the nasal fossa, and is comma-shaped, the tail of the comma pointing forwards. No 
septum or division is visible externally ; and therefore the nostril appears single, and 
not double, as supposed by Prof. Baird. ‘The tail in Mtcrocerculus is very short, hardly 
exceeding half the wing. 
In general dimensions this genus is considerably less than Cyphorhinus, differing, 
too, in the prevailing dark brown colour of its plumage. 
Six species of Microcerculus are now known. These are distributed as follows :— 
Guiana has M. bambla peculiar to itself; in Eastern Ecuador MV. albigularis is alone 
found ; Peru and Colombia share WZ. marginatus; whilst to the interior of Venezuela, 
near the Colombian frontier, JZ. sguamatulus appears to be restricted; then we have 
our two Central-American species, J/. luscinia of the Colombian State of Panama and 
M. philomela of Northern Vera Paz. Microcerculus, like Cyphorhinus, is absent from 
South-eastern Brazil. 
1. Microcerculus philomela. (Tab. V. fig. 3.) 
Ruisefior, Salv. Ibis, 1861, p. 144°. 
Cyphorhinus philomela, Salv. P. Z.S. 1861, p. 202°; Ibis, 1861, p. 352°. 
Microcerculus philomela, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 114° (partim). 
Supra brunneus, plumis anguste nigro marginatis, pileo et uropygio obscurioribus; subtus fuliginosus, plumis 
medialiter nigris et nigro terminatis, gula pallidiore, hypochondriis brunneis nigro transfasciatis ; alis 
caudaque nigris, alarum tectricibus majoribus macula parva subapicali ochrascenti-alba notatis; rostro 
nigro; pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 4:0, ale 23, caude 1-0, tarsi 0°85, rostri a rictu 0°8. (Descr. exempl. 
typ. ex Vera Paz. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. GuateMata, Choctum 22, forests above Lanquin!, forests between Cahabon and 
San Luis (0.8. & FD. G.). 
This interesting little species seems to be restricted to the vast forests of Northern 
Vera Paz, which lie between the Coban highlands and the department of Peten. It 
was during an expedition in search of Quezals, in the mountains above Lanquin, that 
Salvin first came across it, hearing its remarkable song, but unable to secure speci- 
mens!, These were afterwards obtained by a native collector between Choctum and 
Chisec, and described in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society’. ‘The bird was 
