NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 417 



ed, and passes far back on the forehead, and is there a little protuberant like 

 the former ones : the general color of the plumage is black ; the head, neck 

 and breast have a fine purple gloss ; the whole wing, and rest of the body, 

 black ; the tail consists of twelve feathers, and was five inches in length, but 

 had been longer, as the ends were spoiled ; the wings reached a little beyond the 

 insertion of the tail ; the legs were wanting." 



" I found this species in the collection of Miss Blomefield ; it was supposed 

 to come from Cayenne. A label annexed gave_it the name of Oiseau de Ris 

 de grosse espece." 



At present I have seen, in adult plumage, no specimen small enough to be 

 properly or without misgiving regarded as the species described by Latham, 

 nor do I quite understand the " protuberant " character of the bill as stated by 

 him. Further, in all specimens that I have seen the wings reach so far be- 

 yond the insertion of the tail that his description in that particular is by no 

 means applicable, and on the whole I am not without suspicion that this de- 

 scription is not of a bird of the genus Cassidix at all. This description is the 

 sole foundation of the species, if such it is, and the name, as given by Gmelin 

 on the faith of it, has been applied by nearly all late authors, evidently on the 

 supposition that there is one species only extant, which supposition I regard as 

 erroneous, and as probably so, the application of this name. 



At present (assuming that this may be a species of Cassidix), two specimens 

 now before me, it is possible to refer to it, and so also is the bird figured by 

 Mr. Gray, as above. The two specimens before me are in young plumage, and 

 are the smallest of this genus that I have ever seen. The bill is smaller and 

 more slender than in either of the preceding, especially the upper mandible. 

 One specimen from the collection of my friend Mr. Lawrence, of New York, is 

 adolescent, the plumage on the body showing some edgings of purple lustre, 

 nearly uniform above and below. This specimen is from Brazil ; the other 

 specimen is in the Acad. Mus., and without label, stating locality. It is nearly 

 uniform brownish black, as in young birds of other species of this genus, but 

 with numerous traces of bluish purple lustre. 



Mr. Gray's figure, which I regard as probably representing the nearly adult 

 of the same species as the two young birds here mentioned, is that of a bird 

 about 10 inches in total length, of nearly uniform bluish purple color. The 

 young bird in the Acad. Mus. measures, total length 10 inches, wing 6, tail A\ 

 inches. 



4. Cassidix Vieilloti (Bonaparte). 



Scaphidurus Vieilloti, Bonap. Consp. Av. i. p. 426 (1850). 



In the very extensive and valuable collection of birds of Central and South 

 America now belonging to the Smithsonian Institution, I find one specimen, 

 which, though in young plumage, may be different from either of the species 

 above mentioned. It is labelled, in the handwriting of Mr. Jules Verreaux, 

 " Scaphidurus Vieilloti, Bonap.," and the conclusion of that most accurate and 

 excellent ornithologist is always entit.ed to great respect and consideration. 

 The following is Bonaparte's diagnosis : 



"Sc. Vieilloti, Bp. (Cassicus niger? Vieill.) Gal. Ois. t. 89? ex Cayenna, An- 

 tillis. Mus. Darmstadt. Statura media, remigibus primit qualuor apice emargi- 

 nato dilitatis." 



This specimen is in young plumage, being nearly uniform brownish black, 

 the bill slender, comparatively, and more narrow above than in any other I 

 have seen. The primaries are wide, but not especially so at their ends, and 

 have a slight emarginate character at their tips. Total length about 11^ 

 inches, wing 5, tail 4J inches. " Young male." 



At present I regard this as the fourth species of Cassidix with which I am 

 acquainted. 



The Annual Reports of the Librarian and Curators were read, as fol- 

 lows : 

 1866.] 27 



