164 a. S. p. K. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



Sub-Family PSARINAE. 



The characters of this sub- family have already been sufficiently indicated in the preceding 

 pages to distinguish it among the other Colopteridae. The genera have been variously given 

 by different authors. Cabanis and Burmeister adopt three, Fsaris, Pacliyrhamphus, and 

 Batlimidurus, while Sclater, in a recent monograph of the sub-family, (Proceedings Zool. Soc. 

 1857, 67,) recognizes only the two first as genera, giving Batlimidurus and other groups as 

 sub-genera. Judging from the North Mexican species before me, however, there appears 

 abundant reason for keeping Pachyrhamphus and Batlimidurus distinct. These are readily 

 characterized and distinguished by the slightly rounded tail, with broad feathers of the first men- 

 tioned genus, the second having the tail much graduated. Both differ from Psaris (or Tityra) in 

 having the sexes dissimilar ; in having bristles at the base of the bill ; the lores well covered ; 

 the second abbreviated quill in the male broad and notched at tip, instead of narrow and falcate. 



PACHYRHAMPHUS, G. R. Gray. 



Pachyrhiini-hus, Spix, Av. Bras. II, 1824, 31. (Pre-occupied in botany.) 

 Pachyrhamphus, G. R. Gray, List Genera, 1838. 



Head crested. Bill a little broader than high just behind the nostrils. Rictus with rather lonij bristles, two-thirds 

 the length of culmen. Posterior portion of tarsus covered with polygonal plates, largest on the sides ; naked inside at the upper 

 end. First primary shorter than the sixth ; second (in the male only) about two-thirds as wide as the first ; cmarginated inside 

 near the end, where it runs out in an acute point. Tail moderately rounded ; the feathers broad. 



I have constructed -the generic characters as given above entirely from a single species, P. 

 aglaiae, but they probably apply equally well to all. The bill is strong ; the culmen distinct ; 

 the bill moderately broad ; the rictal bristles long. The difference in length between the longest 

 and shortest tail feather amounts to but about .15 of an inch. The legs do not show the scutella- 

 tion very clearly, but there appear to be a row of large polygonal scales on each side the posterior 

 half ol the tarsus, separated by smaller ones behind, these scales inferiorly being granular and 

 set in naked skin, while the superior jiortion of the inner face of the tarsus ap])ears to be naked. 



This genus differs from Psaris or Tityra in the broader bill, bristled rictus, feathered lores, 

 longer tail, different second primary, &c. 



But one species has hitherto been detected near the limits of the United States ; the others 

 belong to more southern localities. 



PACHYKHAMPHUS AGLAIAE, Lafresnaye, 



Rose-throated Flycatcher. 



Pachyrhamphus aglaiae, Lapresnate, Rev. Zool. 1839, 98.— Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 185G, 297.— Id. 1857, 74. 

 Psaris a'^laiat, Kaup, Pr. Zool. Soc. I8.')l, 4G. 



Sp. Ch. — Fourth quill longest; first about eijual to the tixth. Tail rounded. Head crested. Above dark plumbeous, becoming 

 lighter to the tail. Top and sides of head with the crest, glossy black ; the forehead tinged with lirowu. lioncath pale ash, 

 tinged with brownish white on the abdomen and crissum. Chin ashy white. Central region of the throat and forepart of breast 

 rose color. Checks dark ash, tinged with purple. Scapular feathers white at the base. Wings and tail dark brown, edged 

 externally like the back ; the outer primaries and secondaries edged with whitish, the former with a white spot at the base. 



Length, 7.50 ; wing, 3.75 ; tail, 3.10. 



Uab. — Mexico to Rio Grande. 



This species, according to Mr. Sclater, (to whom I am indebted for the identification of the 

 present specimens,) is closely allied to P.pedorulia of Cayenne and New Grenada, and P. 



