BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 187 



Bamesiai Bertoni, Aves Nuevas del Paraguay, 1901, 77. (Type, Synallaxis 

 cururuvi Bertoni=*9. ruficapilla Vieillot.) 



Small, wrenlike, long-tailed Furnariidte (length about 130-150 

 mm.) with only 10 rec trices, and with tail not more than one and a 

 half times as long as wing. 



Bill much shorter than head, rather stout, moderately compressed, 

 its width at loral antitB about equal to \ls depth at same point and 

 from one-third to one-half the distance from nostril to tip of maxilla; 

 culmen gradually decurved from near base, the tip of maxilla not 

 uncinate; tomia slightly decurved terminally, without trace of sub- 

 terminal notch; gonys nearly straight, ascending terminally, at base 

 forming a slight angle with lower edge of mandibular rami. Nostril 

 exposed, posteriorly in contact with loral feathering, narrow (a longi- 

 tudinal slit), overhung by a broad operculum. Rictal bristles want- 

 ing, and feathers of chin, etc., without terminal setae. Wing rather 

 short, very concave beneath, much rounded, the longer primaries 

 exceeding secondai'ies by less (usually very much less) than length 

 of exposed culmen; sixth and seventh, fifth, sixth, and seventh, or 

 sixth, seventh, and eighth, primaries longest, the tenth (outermost) 

 about two-thirds as long as the longest, the ninth shorter than sec- 

 ondaries {S. pudica, S. erythrothorax) or very much longer {S. rujica- 

 pilla, S. albescens). Tail decidedly longer than wing to nearly one 

 and a half times as long, graduated for more than half its length, the 

 rectrices (10) usually acuminate, sometimes with webs thin or semi- 

 decomposed. Tarsus nearly to much more than twice as long as bill 

 from nostril, nearly to quite three-fifths as long as wing, stout, dis- 

 tinctly scutellate; middle toe, with claw, very slightly to decidedly 

 shorter than tarsus; outer toe, without claw, reaching to slightly 

 beyond subterminal articulation of middle toe, the inner toe very 

 slightly shorter; hallux about as long as inner toe, but much stouter; 

 basal phalanx of middle toe united for a little more than basal half 

 to outer toe, for slightly less to inner toe; claws moderate in size and 

 curvature, acute, that of the hallux much shorter than the digit. 



Coloration. — Color partly cinnamon-rufous, this either on pileum, 

 wings, or tail, sometimes on all three, occasionally on chest; other- 

 wise plain olive, brown, gray, or sooty, usually paler (sometimes 

 partly whitish) on under parts; no streaks, spots, nor bars. Sexes 

 alike. 



Nidification. — Nest an extremely bulky retort-shaped structure 

 composed outwardly of coarse sticks, built in bushes or low trees; 

 eggs white, bluish-white, or pale bluish green. 



o Named for Carlos St. Barnes. (Bertoni.) 



