116 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



strongly convex basally, nearly straight and ascending terminally. 

 Nostril exposed, broadly oval, margined above by narrow membrane, 

 posteriorly in contact with the short and very dense feathering of 

 latero-frontal antiae. Rictal bristles present but small; feathers of 

 chin, malar antise, etc., short, without trace of terminal setse. Wing 

 rather short but pointed, very concave beneath, the outer primaries 

 rather strongly arcuate, the longer ones projecting decidedly beyond 

 secondaries; sixth, seventh, or eighth primaries longest, the tenth 

 (outermost) nearly three- fourths as long as the longest, the ninth 

 decidedly longer than secondaries. Tail about three-fifths as long as 

 wing, rounded (graduation less than distance from nostril to tip of 

 maxilla), the rectrices (12) rather broad and firm, rounded terminally. 

 Tarsus about two and a half times as long as bill from nostril, 

 decidedly less than two-fifths as long as wing, distinctly scutellate, 

 the plantar scutella quadrate, in two longitudinal series; middle toe, 

 with claw, a little more than two-thirds as long as tarsus (longer 

 than commissure) ; outer toe, without claw, reaching to about middle 

 of subterminal phalanx of middle toe, the inner toe very slightly 

 shorter; hallux much shorter than inner toe, slightly stouter; basal 

 phalanx of middle toe united for more than half its length to outer 

 toe, for less than half its length to inner toe; anterior claws very 

 short, relatively broad, slightly curved; claw of hallux slightly 

 curved, nearly as long as its digit. Plumage compact, dense, that 

 of rump and flanks not elongated nor lax; feathers of pileum not 

 elongated. 



Coloration. — General color uniform brown or blackish (the head 

 sometimes rufescent) above, dusky, grayish, or brownish below, some- 

 times with chest rufescent or tawny, the under tail-coverts usually 

 rufescent and throat black (sometimes margined posteriorly with a 

 narrow band of cinnamon or chestnut); inner webs of remiges with 

 basal portion (abruptly) buff, ochraceous, or tawny, the under wing- 

 coverts similar but tipped with black; sexes alike; young similar 

 but throat usually more or less variegated with white. 



Range. — Southern Mexico to western Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, 

 southeastern Brazil, and Cayenne. (About fifteen species and 

 subspecies.) 



This genus is very distinct from any other, its nearest relative 

 being the genus Chamseza Vigors,** of South America, which differs 

 in longer tail (more than two-thirds as long as wing), much greater 

 development of plumage of lower back and rump, different char- 

 acter of feathering of anterior portion of head, shorter and more 

 depressed bill, variegated plumage, and other features. 



o See page 15. 



