406 I-HYTOTOMID-S; 



Family V. PHYTOTOMIDiE. 



The family Phytotomidce contains only one genus Phytotoma, 

 -with four species, and is restricted to the Neotropical llegion. 



The Phytotoma?. have a general external resemblance to the 

 Finches, with which they were associated by the older authors. 

 Eyton, who dissected some of the birds procured during the voyage 

 of the ' Beagle,' first showed (Zool. Yoy. ' Beagle,' iii. p. 153) that 

 Phytotoma has only one pair of sterno-tracheal muscles, but was 

 not aware of the importance of this discovery. This character, 

 however, as well as the structure of the tarsal covering, which is 

 pycnaspidean, shows that the true position of the Phytotomce is 

 among the Oligomyodians, probably near the Cotingidce. 



1. PHYTOTOMA. 



Type. 



Phytotoma, Molina, Saggio s. St. Nat. Chili, p. 345 (1782) . . P. rara. 



Phytotoma is restricted to the western and southern portions of 

 South America, extending from Western Peru through Bolivia, 

 Chili, and Argentina to Northern Patagonia. The Phytotoma' 

 build open nests and lay spotted eggs (cf. Scl. et Huds. Arg. 

 Orn. i. p. 164). 



Key to the Species. 



A. Tail with a broad red cross band 1. rara, p. 406. 



B. Tail uniform blackish, with white end. 



a. Whole crown of head rufous. 



i Larger : brown below 2. angustirostris, p. 407. 



| Smaller : redder below .... 3. rutila, p. 407. 



b. Narrow front only rufous 4. raimondii, p. 408. 



1. Phytotoma rara. 



Phytotoma rara, Molina, Saggio s. St. Nat. del Chili, p. 345 ; Gm. 

 S. N. i. p. 928 ; d'Orb. Voy., Ois. p. 293 ; Tsch. Faun. Per., Aves, 

 p. 139 ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 80 ; Cab. et Hein. Mus. Hein. ii. p. Ill; 

 Gay, Hist. Chili, Zool. i. p. 363; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 200; Scl. et 

 Salv. Nomencl, p. 00; Fhilippi, Cat. Av. Chil. p. 20; Tacz. Orn. 

 Per. ii. p. 394. 



Phytotoma bloxami, Griff. Anim. Kingd. ii. p. 319 ; Jard. et Selb. 

 III. Orn.i. pi. 4 (2). 



Phytotoma silens, Kittl. Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. i. p. 175, t. 1 (1831). 



Phytotoma molina, Less. L'Inst. 1834, p. 310. 



Above brown, striated with black ; crown rufous ; wings black, 

 with white edgings to the coverts ; tail black, all the lateral rectrices 

 with a broad dark-red cross band on the inner webs : beneath red ; 



