BIKDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 361 



Genus TODIROSTRU M Lesson. 



Todiiostrum Lesson, Traite d'Orn., 1831, 384. (Type, Todus cinereus Linnaeus.) 

 Todirhamphus (emendation; not Todiramphiis Lesson, 1826) Kaup, Proc. ZooL 



Soc. Lond., 1851, 52. 

 Triccus Cabanis, in Tschudi's Fauna Peruana, Aves, 1846, 164. (Type, Todus 



cinereus Linnaeus.) 



Very small Tyrannida^ (wing about 47-51 mm.) with bill nearly 

 to quite as long as head, subspatulate, its width at anterior end of 

 nostrils at least twice its depth at same point and equal to decidedly 

 less than half (sometimes less than one-third) the length of exposed 

 culmen; exposed culmen a little longer than middle toe, with claw 

 (except in T. ficJiistnceiceps), but much shorter than tarsus, distinctly 

 ridged, nearly if not quite straight to near tip, where rather abruptly 

 decurved, the tip of maxilla minutely imcinate; gonys decidedly 

 longer than mandibular rami; lateral outlines of l)ill nearly straight 

 for most of their length, but decided 1}" convex and strongly con- 

 vergent terminally. Nostril mostly, sometimes wholly, exposed, 

 narrow^, longitudinal, overhung by very broad membrane. Rictal 

 l)ristles well developed; feathers of chin and frontal antias with dis- 

 tinct ])ristly points (except in T. cinereMin). Wing moderate, much 

 roiuided; seventh, sixth and seventh, or seventh and eighth primaries 

 longest, the tenth (outermost) not longer (usually shorter) than first 

 (in T. scJiistaceiceps much shorter than secondaries) ; longest primary 

 exceeding secondaries by less than length of middle toe without claw. 

 Tail two-thirds to about five-sixths as long as wing, more or less 

 strongly rounded, or (in T. schistaceice/ps) even, the rectrices nar- 

 row (relatively broader in T. schistaceiceps). Tarsus nearly twice as 

 long as middle toe without claw (in T. nigriceps and T. guttatum), to 

 more than twice as long (in T. cinereum, T. signotum, and T. f^cMs- 

 taceiceps), slender, with acrotarsial divisions more or less distinct; 

 basal phalanx of middle toe united for entire length to outer toe, for 

 more than half its length to inner toe (in T. signatum the cohesion 

 involving almost whole of basal phalanx of middle toe on inner side 

 and part of second phalanx on outer side) ; outer toe, without claw, 

 reaching to beyond middle of subterminal phalanx of middle toe, 

 the inner toe decidedly shorter; hallux about as long as inner toe, its 

 claw decidedly shorter than the digit; all the claws moderatel}^ 

 curved, sliarj), compressed. 



Coloration. — Above plain olive-green, the pileiun and hind neck black 

 or slate color; wings and tail blackish with olive-green or yellowish 

 edgings, the former sometimes with two yellow bands, occasionall}" 

 with chestnut on carpal region; sometimes the upper parts mostly 

 black; under parts yellow, with or without black streaks on chest, the 



