232 THE GENUS PEUCEDRAMUS 



States to breed, though it occasionally nests in the Northern 

 States. In the opposite direction, it extends in winter to South 

 America. For an account of its habits, I must refer to other 

 treatises, though I may add that nothing 1 have read upon 

 the subject indicates that the bird differs in any notable respect 

 from others of the same genus. 



Genus PEUCEDRAMUS Coues 



Peucedramus, Ooues apud Hemh. Zool. Expl. "W. 100 Merid. " 1875" (= 1876), 202. (Type 

 Sylvia olivacea Giraud.) 



Chars. — General aspect of Dendroeea. Tongue much as in 

 that genus, but larger, with revolute edges, cleft tip, and lacin- 

 iate for some distance from the end. Wings elongated, half as 

 long again as the tail (in Dendrceca but little longer than the 

 tail), reaching, when folded, nearly to the end of the tail. Tail 

 emarginate. Tarsus no longer than the middle toe and claw. 

 Hallux little if any longer than its claw. Bill little shorter 

 than tarsus (averaging little over half the tarsus in Dendrceca), 

 attenuate, notably depressed, yet very little widened at base. 

 Culmen rather concave than convex in most of its length, the 

 under outline almost perfectly straight from extreme base to 

 tip. Nasal fossae very large, with a highly developed nasal 

 scale. Rictal vibrissae few and short. Plumage without streaks. 



The form of the bill is peculiar, lacking entirely the Parino 

 aspect of that of Dendrceca; it somewhat resembles that of 

 Shurus. The relationships of P. olivaceus appear to be with the 

 Jamaican Sylvicola eoa of Gosse. Certain Certhia-\ike peculiari- 

 ties of habits have been noted by Mr. Henshaw. Professor 

 Baird long ago called attention to the characters of this form 

 in the following terms : — "The bill in this species is quite pecu- 

 liarly slender and depressed, and the culmen is straighter than 

 in any other Dendroica. The nostrils, too, are much more linear, 

 and the wings unusually long. In these respects, as well as in 

 pattern of coloration, it forms a very strongly marked section 

 among the Dendroicas, even if not entitled to consideration as 

 a separate genus." The ostensible date of the establishment 

 of the genus is 1875, but the actual issue of the work in which 

 it was characterized was delayed until the latter part of 1870 ; 

 the first appearance of the name (without characterization) was 

 in 1875 in Mr. Henshaw's other publication below cited. The 

 genus, as far as known, embraces a single species. 



