200 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Neotropical 



straight culmen and up-turned gonys, the almost entire ob- 

 literation of the divisions of the tarsal scutes renders it easily 

 distinguishable. 



1. LlOSCELES THORACICUS. 



Pteroptochus thoracicus, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1864, p. G09, 

 pi. xxxviii. ; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 46. 



Liosceles thoracicus, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 7Q. 

 Suprk fulvo-brunneus, dorso saturatiore; tergi postici plu- 

 mis laxis elongatis, i^allido fulvo et nigro vix conspicue 

 transvittatis : alaiiim tectricibus albo maculatis, fascia 

 submarginali nigricante : subtus albus ; pectore sulpliu- 

 rascente, plumis mediis pallido rufo terminatis, plagara 

 pectoralem formantibus : loris, superciliis et lateribus 

 cer^dcis albo nigroque variegatis ; pectore laterali cum 

 ventre toto brunneis, albo nigroque squamulatis : remi- 

 gibus et rectricibus fere unicoloribus fuscis ; secundari- 

 orum externorum marginibus dorso concoloribus ; rostro 

 superiore nigro, inferiore albo ; pedibus corylinis : long, 

 tota 6"6, alae 3"0, caudae 3'0, tarsi I'l, rostri a rictu 0'8. 

 Hab. Amazonia in ripis fl. Madeira. 

 Mus. Vindob. et P. L. S. 



This bird in general colours approaches most nearly to 

 Pteroptochus albicollis of Chili, but is readily known by the 

 pure white breast and mid-beliy and the curious pectoral 

 spot. It is also considerably inferior in size, and rather 

 smaller than P. rubecula — hitherto the smallest known species 

 of the genus. The bill (see p. 199) is differently shaped from 

 that of P. albicollis or any of its alUes : it is short and straight, 

 the culmen being straight nearly to the extremity, and the 

 gonys curved upwards rather rapidly towards the point. It is 

 compressed much as in P. albicollis. The tarsi are rather 

 shorter and by no means so strong as in P. albicollis, and their 

 anterior surface, as far as I can judge from my single specimen 

 (the feet of which are not in very good order), nearly smooth, 

 the divisions of the scutella being almost obsolete, and nearly 

 imperceptible. The claws are short and curved, as in other 

 members of the genus. The wings are short and rounded, 

 the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth primaries being 

 nearly equal and longest. 



