NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 4l5 



IV. Genus POTAMOPSAR, plater. 



(Subgenus Potamopsar, Sclater, Cat. Am. Birds, p. 141.) 



1. Potamopsar minor (Spix.) 



Icterus minor, Spix At. Bras. i. p. 67 (1824.) 



Spix At. Bras. 1 pi. 63, fig. 2. 



Frontal feathers short, erect and rigid. Bill shorter than the head, rather 

 slender, and abruptly tapering, pointed ; wing rather short, third, fourth and 

 fifth quills longest and nearly equal; tail rather long, graduated; legs and feet 

 moderate, or rather slender. 



Total length about 9 inches, wing 4, tail 4 inches. 



Adult male. Entirely bluish black, with little or no lustre and nearly uniform 

 on all parts, including the wings and tail. Bill and feet black. 



Hab. Rio Napo (Mr. Lawrence), Rio Javarri (Mr. J. Verreaux). 



It is perhaps expedient to follow Dr. Sclater in regarding this bird as Icterus 

 minor, Spix, as above cited, but neither the figure nor description of that author 

 will quite establish its claims satisfactorily. If really the' species of Spix, it is 

 one of his worst figures and descriptions, which is saying much ! 



This is a rare species in American collections, the only specimens that I have 

 seen being one in the Smiths. Mus , from Mr. Verreaux, labelled " Rio Javarri," 

 and another, in my friend Mr. Lawrence's collection, labelled " Rio Napo," 

 both undoubtedly correct. 



V. Genus CASSIDIX, Lesson. 



Genus Cassidix, Less. Traite d'Orn. i. p. 433 (1831.) 



Genus Scaphidurus, Swains. Faun. Bor. Am. ii. p. 494 (1831) and Scaphidura, 



Swains. Cab. Cy. p. 273 (1837), but not Philos. Mag. 1827, p. 436, which is 



Quiscalus. 



This is a group easily distinguished generically, especially by the strong bill 

 flattened above, and in adult plumage by the somewhat lengthened and proba- 

 bly partially erectile plumage of the neck. The color is black in all the spe- 

 cies, and in my opinion is always lustrous in the adults of both sexes. In the 

 young Lit all species known to me the color is dull or plain black. Specimens 

 in plumages not mature are much the more common in all collections, and 

 such have been repeatedly described, but very doubtfully to the comfort of the 

 student. It is quite impossible for me to coincide with those authors who re- 

 gard this group as but one species, and that by a name which is of quite 

 doubtful application to any ! 



I. Cassidix ater (Vieillot.) 



Cassicus ater, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. v. p. 363 (1816. 



Psarocolius palliatus, Wagler Syst. Av. No. 4 (1827.) 



Del Grande, Azara, Apunt. Hist. Nat. Paraguay, i. p. 273. 



Scaphidura barita, Swains. Cab. Cy. p. 301 (1838.) 



Scaphidura crassirostra, Swains. Cab. Cy. p. 301? 

 This seems to be the most common species of South America. Specimens 

 now before me are from Brazil, Cayenne, Ecuador and New Grenada, and are 

 quite identical with each other throughout, and in my opinion different speci- 

 fically from the species of Central America and Mexico, though about the same 

 size. 



Large, entirely black, the upper parts having a fine bronzed yellowish and 

 greenish lustre, becoming violet on the rump and upper tail coverts. Bill very 

 strong and wide at base, curved in its upper outline, pointed, flat above and 

 extended into the frontal plumage, terminating in a semicircle. Plumage of 

 the neck rather full and long, and partially erectile. Wing long, pointed, first 

 quill longest, tail moderate or rather long, rounded, feet and legs strong, claws 

 sharp. 



Total length about 14 to 16 inches, wing 7 to 8, tail 6 to 6 inches (adult). 



1866.] 



