9. CA8SIDIX. 32U 



9. CASSIDIX. 



Type. 

 Scaphidurus, Sio. Faun. Bor.-Am., Aves, p. 494 (1831, 



nee Sio. 1827) C. oryzivora. 



Cassidix, Less. Trait. d'Orn. i. p. 433 (1831) C. oryzivora. 



Scaphidura, Sw. Class. B. ii. p. 272 (1837) C. oryzivora. 



The single species of this genus is subject to considerable varia- 

 tion, and Cassin (Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 415) has endeavoured 

 r,o divide it into several local forms, which I have not been able to 

 substantiate. Cassidix is sometimes placed with the Quiscalina', but 

 the expanded mesorhinium induces me to consider that it is better 

 referred to the Cassicina', amongst which the curious elongated 

 feathers of the neck of the adult male, which form a kind of ruff, 

 and the uniform black plumage render it easily distinguishable. 



Range. From Southern Mexico southwards through Central 

 America and South America down to Paraguay. 



1. Cassidix oryzivora. 



Oriohis oryzivorus, Gm. S. N. i. p. 386. 



Cassidix oryzivora, Cab. litis. Hein. i. p. 194 ; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. 

 Phil. 1«U6, p. 416; Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 98 (Mexico), 1859, p. 57 

 (Honduras) et p. 140 (Ecuador); id. Cat. A. B. p. 142; id. 

 Ibis, 1884, p. 165 ; Scl. et Sab. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 354 (Panama), 

 1867, p. 279 (Mosquitia), p. 673 (Para), et p. 978 (Pebas), 

 1»69, p. 252 (Venezuela), 187-3, p. 185 (S. Peru) et p. 267 

 (Upper Amazons), 1879, p. 510 (Antioquia) ; iid. Nomencl. p. 39 ; 

 Salvin, Ibis, 1861, p. 353 (Centr. Am.) ; id. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 191 

 (Veragua); Salv. et Godm. Ibis, lb79, p. 201, et 1880, p. 123 

 (Santa Marta) ; Berlepsch, J.f. O. 1873, p. 251 (South BrazQ) ; 

 Tacz. Orn. Per. ii. p. 435; Salv. Ibis, 1885, p. 219 (Brit. 

 Guian.). 



Tordo grande, Azara, Aimnt. i. p. 273. 



Cassicus ater, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. v. p. 363 ; id. Enc. Meth. ii. p. 723. 



Cassicus niger, Licht. Doubl. p. 19; Max. Beitr. iii. p. 1241. 



Psarocolius palhatus, Wagl. Syst. Av. no. 4. 



Cassicus palliatus, Tsch. Faun. Per. p. 229. 



Corvus (Cassidix) mexicanus, Less. Tr. d'Orn. i. p. 433. 



Cassidix mexicanus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 416. 



Cassidix ater, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1806, p. 415 ; Pelz. Orn. Bras. 

 _ p. 201 ; Tacz. P. Z. S. 1877, p. 323 (W. Peru). 



Scaphidura barita et S. crassirostra, Stv. An. in Men. p. 301. 



Scapbidura atra, Cab. in Schomb. Guiana, iii. p. 683. 



Scaphidurus ater, B-p. Consp. i. p. 426 ; Burm. Si/st. Ueb. iii. p. 278. 



Cassidix vieilloti, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 417. 



Uniform glossy violaceous black ; bill and feet black : neck- 

 feathers lengthened and expanded : whole length 14 inches, wing 7-8, 

 tail G-1. Female similar, but not so bright, and much smaller ; no 

 expanded neck-feathers. 



JJab. Central and South America, from S. Mexico to Peru and 

 Paraguay. 



