352 



U. S. p. E. R. ESP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



redivivus ; the outer tail feather is also narrowly margined with white. The difference in 

 length of the second quill in being decidely longer than the secondaries instead of shorter, is 

 very conspicuous. 



In the collection before me is a specimen (8128) which I find it difficult to refer to any of the 

 species here described. The u^jper parts are most like those of curvirostris, being of the same 

 grayish brown ; there is, however, a very faint trace of the white bands on the wings. The 

 under parts, however, show more of the decided whitish of curvirostris, the breast being strongly 

 tinged with ash as far as the belly, which is lighter, and shows some obsolete rounded spots. 

 The under tail coverts and anal region are darker than in curvirostris, but less rufous than in 

 redivivus. The tail lacks the white tips of curvirostris, although absolutely lighter at the 

 end. The wings are, however, similar, even to the whitish flexure and tips of coverts. It is 

 possible that this specimen may belong to a different species from any I here describe. The 

 bill has the moderate curvature of T. curvirostris. In general characters it comes nearest to the 

 Toxostoma vetula, of Wagler, Isis, 1831, 528. The diagnosis would be as follows : 



Above ash gray ; sides and beneath, similar, but a little paler. Throat whitish. Crissum brownish yellow, becoming lighter 

 on the abdomen. Belly with very obscure spots. Tail with indistinctly lighter tips. Bend of the wing and narrow tips to 

 greater coverts whitish . 



List of specimens. 



HARPOKHYNCHUS LONGIROSTRIS, Cab. 



Orpheus longirostris, Lafresnate, Rev. Zool. I, April, 1838, 55. — Ib. Mag. de Zool. 1839 ; Oiseaux, pi. i. 

 Toxostoma Imxgirostre, Cabanis, Wiegmann's Archiv, 1847, i, 207. — {longirostris) Bonap. Consp. 1850, 277. 

 Jllimus longirostris. Gray, Genera, 1844-'49. 

 Harporhynchus longirostris, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 81. 



Sp. Ch. — Similar to H. rufus. Wings much rounded ; second quill shorter than the secondaries. Exposed portion of the 

 bill as l»ng as the head ; the lower edge decidedly decurvcd or concave. Above rather dark brownish rufous; beneath pale 

 rufous white ; streaked on the sides of the neck and body, and across the breast, with very dark brownish black, nearly 

 uniform throughout. Two rather narrow wliite bands on the wings. The concealed portion of the quills dark brown. 

 Length, 10.50; wing, 4.00; tail, 5.00; tarsus, 1.40. 



Hub. — Lower Rio Grande. South through Eastern Mexico. 



This species is very similar to the H. rufus, but may be readily distinguished by well marked 

 characters. The feet and bill are decidedly longer ; the latter measuring 1.15 inches 

 instead of about .95 ; it is also much more curved, the lower edge being concave or bow shaped, 

 instead of straight. The wings and tail, on the other hand, are shorter ; the former much 

 more rounded. The rufous of the back is considerably darker ; the stripes beneath are larger 

 and almost uniform black, instead of partly rufous. The hinder part of the breast and the 

 central portion of the abdomen are much more unspotted. 



A specimen of this species from Xalapa, belonging to Mr. Lawrence, is very similar to those 

 from Brownsville, the bill perhaps a little longer ; the white bands on the wings narrower. 



