PLATYRHYNCHUS. 5 
over the forests of the tropical portion of the neotropical region. Three species occur 
within our limits, whereof P. cancrominus has the most northern range, extending from 
the Mexican State of Vera Cruz to Nicaragua. An allied form, P. albogularis, takes its 
place in Costa Rica and thence spreads through Western Ecuador and Venezuela. 
Both these birds have near allies in South America in P. saturatus of Guiana and 
P. mystaceus of Guiana and Brazil. The third species is P. swperciliaris, which extends 
from the State of Panama to Guiana and has a close ally in P. coronatus of Eastern 
Ecuador. 
The general plumage of Platyrhynchus is brown or olive on the upper surface 
and ochraceous-yellowish or white on the under surface; the males, and sometimes 
the females, have a distinct occipital crest which can be laid open or closed by the 
surrounding feathers at will. The bill is a very characteristic feature, being very broad 
and with the lateral margins convex, the width at the base about = 3 the tomia; the 
upper surface is much flattened, the culmen slightly depressed but more abruptly so 
towards the tip, on either side of which there is a deep notch; the nostrils are round 
and open, at the end of the nasal fossa. The tarsi and feet are very slender, the former 
covered with a single sheath; the outer toe is a little longer than the inner. The 
wing is short and rounded, 4th quill longest, 3rd =5th, 2nd=6th, Ist<8th. The tail 
is short and nearly square, <twice tarsus, =4 wing. 
a. Stria superciliaris nulla. 
1. Platyrhynchus cancrominus. 
Platyrhynchus cancroma, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 295 *, 1859, p. 884; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. 
N. H. 1. p. 557°. 
Platyrhynchus cancrominus, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 299*; Ibis, 1860, p. 399°; Nutt. & Ridgw. 
Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 884°; Scl. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xiv. p. 667. 
Supra umbrino-brunneus ; capite summo obscuriore et crista abscondita flava ornato; alis et cauda nigricanti- 
brunneis obscure cinnamomeo limbatis; superciliis a naribus, ciliis et abdomine medio pallide ochraccis ; 
gula tota alba; pectore et hypochondriis pallide umbrino-brunneis: rostri maxilla nigra, mandibula 
pallida, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 4-0, alee 2°35, caudee 1-2, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0°6. (Deser. maris 
ex Volcan de Agua, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 
@ mari similis, crista verticali nulla. 
Hab. Mzxtco, Hot region of the State of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast*), Cordova (Sailé 1), 
Playa Vicente (Boucard?); British Honpuras, Orange Walk (Gawmer); GuatE- 
MALA, Choctum 4°, Teleman, Volcan de Agua above San Diego, El Paraiso (0. 8. & 
Ff, D. G.); Nicaragua, Sucuyd (Nutting °). 
An inhabitant of the hot region of the State of Vera Cruz? and of the forests 
bordering both oceans in Guatemala, and, according to Mr. Ridgway, occurring as far 
south as the banks of the San Juan del Norte river in Nicaragua ®. Sallé observed it as 
high as Cordova in Mexico 4, and we found it at an elevation of about 3000 feet in the 
Volcan de Agua, 1200 feet at Choctum 4, and at about 300 feet at Paraiso, a hacienda 
