Dr. P. L. Sclater on Pipra deliciosa. 175 



differ essentially from the Herons in these particulars. If they 

 do not, the statement proves nothing either one way or the 

 other. And when it is finally said^ in the notice, that the skulls 

 of Scopus and Bcdceniceps are so entirely different that it is use- 

 less to enter upon further details respecting them, the compari- 

 son above instituted will, the author thinks, prove not only 

 that there are similarities, but such as are neither few nor in- 

 significant, and that it is Mr. Bartlett's own fault if he did not 

 become aware of them. 



The author therefore cannot, by this new plea in the discussion 

 on the affinities of Bulaniceps, find himself induced to alter the 

 opinion he has endeavoured to substantiate, partly in his former 

 communication to the Zoological Society's 'Proceedings,^ and 

 partly in the representation here given. 



XX. — Note on Pipra deliciosa. By P. L. Sclater. 



(Plate VI.) 



In one of my lists of the birds collected by Mr. Eraser in Ecua- 

 dor, published in the Zoological Society's ' Proceedings ' for 

 1860, I proposed the name of Pipra deliciosa iov anewlManakin, 

 of which examples were obtained at Nanegal, and gave some re- 

 marks on the abnormal structure of some of the wing-feathers 

 exhibited by the male of this species. I was not then aware 

 that a very similar structure occui's in two other members of the 

 group of PiprincE — namely, in Pipra regulus, of Brazil, and Pipra 

 striolata, of New Granada, — although the abnormal growth is not 

 carried to such an excess of development in these birds. But the 

 first three secondaries are curved, and the next following thickened 

 at the stems, in the males of these two species, nearly as is the case 

 in Pipra deliciosa. I think, therefore, that the latter bird ought 

 to be removed from the typical Piprce to the genus Machtero- 

 pterus. This term, evidently referring to the peculiar structure 

 of the wing, was employed for Pipra regidus and its allies by 

 Prince Bonaparte in 1854*, having been taken by the Prince 

 from Dr. Schiff's MS. names in the Frankfort Museum. 



* See Conspectus Voluerum Anisodactylorum, auctore Carolo L. Bona- 

 parte, in Ateneo Italiano, No. 11, August 1854. 



