260 



FORMICARIIDJ.. 



16. RHAMPHOC^NUS *. ^ 



Type. 

 Ramphocsenus, Vieill. Kouv. Diet. xxix. p. 5 (1819) . . R. melanurus. 

 Acontistes, Sund. K. Vet -Ak. Handl. 1835, p. 95 (1836) R. melauurus. 



Scolopacinus, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 118 R. rufiventris. 



Microbates, Scl. et Salt. Nomencl. p. 155 (1873) R. collaris. 



Structure of Ehai/iphocanus rufiventris. 



This very peculiar group contains about six species of Wren-like 

 birds, whicli are spread 'over the Neotropical Region, from Southern 

 Mexico to Brazil. They are remarkable for their long, straight bill, 

 in which the nostrils are placed in a narrow groove at the base and 

 partly covered by a membrane, and their long smooth tarsi. 



Key to the Species. 



A. Tail long ; rectrices gi-aduated ; bill longer, 



thinner. (lihaynphocfenus.) 

 a. Tail-feathers black. 



I Flanks rufous 1. melanurus, p. 260. 



) Flanks white 2. albiventris, p. 2(il. 



h. Tail-feathers with white ends 3. rujiventvis, p. 2G1. 



B. Tail short ; rectrices not graduated ; bill 



shorter, thicker. (Microbates.) 



c. Without a pectoral collar. 



( Belly lighter ; throat nearly white. . 4. cinereiveyitris,-^. 2Q2. 

 ) Belly darker ; throat striated .... 5. aemitorquatus, p. 262. 



d. With a pectoral coUar 6. collaris, p. 263. 



1. Rhamphocaenus melanurus. 



Rhamphocrenus melanurus, Vieill. Nouv. Did. xxix. p. 6 ; id. Enc. 

 JSUth. p. 863; id. Gal. Ois.\. p. 204, pi. 128; Burm. Syst. Ueb. 

 iii. p. 72 ; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. ii. p. 11 ; Bp. Consp. i. 



See iny paper on this genus, Ibis, 1883, p. 92 : also refer to 

 (1) B. trinitatis, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 42 (Trinidad). 



