206 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



mandible then recurved or subfalcate), the extreme tip sometimes 

 slightly decurved ; gonys gently convex, strongly ascending terminally, 

 more strongly convex and sometimes rather prominent basally. 

 Nostril exposed, posteriorly in contact with loral feathering, very 

 small, broadly oval or roundish, non-operculate, but margined above 

 by a very narrow concave membrane. Rictal bristles wanting, and 

 feathers of chin, etc., without terminal setae. Wing moderate, rather 

 pointed, the longest primaries exceeding secondaries by less than 

 length of bill from nostril to more than length of exposetl culmen; 

 sLxth and seventh, sixth, seventh, and eighth, or fifth, sixth, seventh, 

 and eighth, primaries longest, the tenth (outermost) between two- 

 tliirds and three-fourths as long as the longest, the ninth much 

 longer than secondaries. Tail four-fifths as long as wing to very 

 slightly longer than wing, rounded or graduated (graduation equal 

 to from about one-ninth to more than one-third its total length), 

 the rectrices (12) subacuminate. Tarsus longer than culmen, less 

 than one-fourth to nearly one-tliird as long as wing, distinctly scutel- 

 late; middle toe, with claw, slightly shorter to slightly longer than 

 tarsus; outer toe, mthout claw, reaching to about middle of sub- 

 terminal phalanx of middle toe, the inner toe slightly shorter; hallux 

 about as long as outer toe but decidedly stouter; basal phalanx of 

 middle toe united for much the greater part to outer toe, for at least 

 half to inner toe; claws rather large, strongly curved, and acute, that 

 of the hallux decidedly shorter than the digit. 



Coloration. — Above brown or olive, the pileum and back sometimes 

 narrowly streaked with buffy or wliitish, the former usually much 

 duller (grayer) or more dusky; upper tail-coverts and tail cinnamon- 

 rufous or chestnut; a more or less distinct (usually conspicuous) super- 

 ciliary stripe (often an orbital ring also) of buff or ochraceous; under 

 parts plain light buffy brown or yellowish brown, paler (yellowish 

 or buffy) on throat, or conspicuously streaked or flammulated. 

 Sexes alike. 



Range. — Southern Mexico to Peru, Bolivia, southeastern Brazil, 

 and Venezuela. (About thirteen species.) "^ 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF XENICOPSIS. 



a. Throat buffy or yellowish, chest light buffy brownish. 



b. Hindneck, upper back, and chest not streaked; upper tail-coverts brown, con- 

 color with back; smaller (wing less than 90). 



o Of these the following have been examined in this connection: A", rufosuper- 

 ciliatus (Lafresnaye), X. oleagineus Sclater, X. subalaris (Sclater), A'', percnopterus 

 Oberholser, X. variegaticeps Sclater, X. striaticollis (Sclater), X. temporalis (Sclater), 

 and X. anxius (Bangs). The last four of these differ from typical Xenicopsis in 

 much less graduated tail, relatively much longer wing and shorter tarsus, and 

 unstreaked lower parts, and constitute a very well defined group, possibly a distinct 

 genus. 



