oberholser: diagnosis of a ne;w genus of bucerotidae 167 



surpassing the calyx lobes, oblong-spatulate, 3.5 cm. wide, conspicu- 

 ously parallel-veined. 



Type in the herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden, collected 

 at Mamatoca, vSanta Marta, Colombia, 1898-99, by Herbert H. Smith 

 (no. 829). The collector states that the tree is "common locally near 

 streams, at 500 to 2,500 feet. Flowers in December and January. 

 Petals pale yellowish. The silk enveloping the seeds is used for pillows, 

 etc., and is sold in the market (as 'lana') at Santa Marta. It is 

 collected in May, when it is found scattered on the ground under the 

 trees." We also refer to this species Broadway no. 4,418, collected 

 March 8, 1913, in Tobago; also Pere Duss. no. 3,634, April 10, 1895, 

 from Guadelupe, and his no. 185, from Martinique, although the last 

 two collections do not entirely agree with the type. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — Diciiiiiosis of a new genus of Bnrcrotidae. 

 Harry C. Obrrholskr, Biological vSurvey. 



The family Bucerotidae at the present time is represented in 

 the Philippine Islands by four genera. One of these, however, 

 Hydrocorax Brisson, proves to be composite. This genus Hy- 

 drocorax was first instituted by Brisson for Bitccros hydrocorax 

 Linnaeus;^ much later (1880) another species, Buccros min- 

 dancnsis Tweeddale, was added by Elliot; and subsequently still 

 another, Buceros semigalcatus Tweeddale, was referred to this 

 group. The last-mentioned species, however, is clearly not 

 congeneric, and should form the type of a separate monotypic 

 senus which we here call: 



& 



Platycorax,- gen. nov. 



Diagnosis. — vSimilar to Hydrocorax Brisson, but casque entirely 

 different: in superior aspect smaller, shorter, and narrower in general 

 outline (although the bird is actually larger), posteriorly narrower and 

 not so truncate, the anterior portion sharply much constricted, so 

 that the anterior third is much narrower than in Hydrocorax, and 

 concave in outline instead of evenly convex throughout its length: in 

 lateral aspect completely fia4;tened anteriorly, with no vertical pro- 

 jection, the whole bill therefore much less in height;'' feathered inter- 

 ramal space relatively as well as actually broader. 



Type. — Buceros semigaleatus Tweeddale. 



' Hydrocorax Brisson, Ornith. 4: 565. 1760. (Type by taiitonymy, Buceros 

 hydrocorax Linnaeus.) 



'^ ifkoiTV'i, latus; Kopa^, corviis. 



^ These differences in the shape of the casque are well shown by the figures given 

 in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for 1878, pages 278-279. 



