TURDIU.E — TlIK TIlurSHES, 



35 



irar/'orhi/iicfin.'t rufus. 



Genus HARPORHYNCHUS, Cabaxis. 



Toxostoma, Wagleu, Isis, 1S31, 528. (TyjiL' T. cdala, WAiii,., not Toxostoma, Raf. 



1816.) 

 Harpes, Gambel, Pr. A. N. S. I'liila. II. 18-15, 'l^i. (Type Harpcs rcdimviui, (Ja.mb., nut 



ot'GOLDFUSS, 1839.) 

 Hai-porhi/iichiiS, Cabanis, Archiv f. iSTaturg. 1848, I. 98. (Type Harpes redivivus, Gamb.) 

 MethrioplcTus, Reich. A v. Syst. Nat. 1S50, pi. iv. (Type said by Gray to be //. /■»/«»■.) 



Gf,n. Char. Bill from forehead as long as, or much longer than the head ; becoming 

 more and more deourved in both jaws as lengthened. No indication of a notch. Rictus 

 with the bri.stles extending Ijevond 



the nostril.s. Tarsus long and stout, 

 appreciably exceeding the middle 

 toe and claw, strongly scutellate 

 anteriorly. Wings considerably 

 shorter than tail, much rounded ; 

 the first quill more than half the 

 second ; fourth or (iftli longest. 

 Tail large, much graduated ; the 

 feathers firm. 



The species of this genus 



are all of large size, in fact, 



embracing the largest of the 



American slender-billed os- 



cine birds. All tlie species differ in structure, varying especially in tlie 



length of the bill, as above stated. 



It is useless to attempt a division of this genus, for tliere is such a gradual 



chain of characters between the two extremes of form {rufus and crissalU), 



that they even seem almost one species, 

 wlien the numerous intermediate forms, 

 shading so insensibly into each other, are 

 considered. However, as tliis view would 

 be rather extreme, in view of the really 

 great difference of form between the species 

 mentioned, M'e may consider the following 

 as good species, several of them with one 

 or more varieties : rufus, with longiccmda 

 and lonffirostris as varieties, the former 

 scarcely appreciably different, the latter 

 ranking as a permanent race ; ocellatm, ci- 

 nereus, curvirostris, the latter with one well- 

 marked variety, palmeri ; redivivus, witli 

 most probably lecontd as a well-marked 

 \"ariety, and crissalis. 

 The seasonal differences in the plumage often make it difticult to deter- 

 mine these sevel.al forms ; but if the following facts are borne in mind, the 



Harporltijnchus rii/ii.y 



