BIRDS — FKINGILLIDAE — COTURNICULUS. 



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COTURNICULUS, Bonaparte. 



Coturniculus, Bonaparte, Geog. List, 1838. Type Fringilla passerina, Wils. 



Bill very large and stout ; the under mandible broader, but lower than the upper, which is considerably convex at the basal 

 portion of its upper outline. Legs moderate, apparently not reaching to the end of the tail. The tarsus appreciably lunger 

 tlian the middle toe ; the lateral toes equal, and with their claws falling decidedly short of the middle claw ; the hind toe 

 iniermediate between the two. The wings are short and rounded, reaching to the base of the tail ; the tertiaries almost as long 

 as the primaries ; not much difference in the lengths of the primaries, although the outer three or four are slightly graduated. 

 The tail is short and narrow, decidedly shorter than the wing, graduated laterally, but slightly emarginate ; the featliers all 

 lanceolate and acute, but not stiffened, as in Jimmodromus . 



The upper parts generally are streaked ; the blotches on the interscapular region very wide. The breast and sides are gen- 

 erally streaked more or less distinctly. The edge of the wing is yellow. 



This genus agrees with Fasserculus in the short and narrow tail. The wings are much 

 shorter and more rounded ; the feet shorter, especially the middle toe, which is not as long as 

 the tarsus. The tail feathers are more lanceolate. The hill is much larger, and more swollen 

 at the base. 



The essential characters of this genus consist in the swollen convex hill ; the short toes com- 

 pared with the tarsus ; the short and rounded wings ; and the very small, narrow, slightly 

 graduated tail, with its lanceolate acute feathers. 



In some respects there is a resemblance to Ammodromus, in which, however, the bill is very 

 much more slender ; the wings still shorter, and more rounded ; the tail feathers much stiffer, 

 and even more lanceolate ; the toes extending beyond the tip of the tail ; the middle toe rather 

 longer than the tarsus, instead of considerably shorter. 



Synopsis of species. 



Head without a median stripe above ; body beneath whitish ; the sides and across the breast 

 light brownish, without any streaks. Sides of head ashy C. manimhe.^ 



Head with a median light stripe. Breast and sides of head and body yellowish brown, with 

 obsolete streaks of darker. Neck above streaked with rufous C passerinus. 



Head with a median light stripe. Under parts reddish white, conspicuously streaked on the 

 breast and sides with black. Head and neck above tinged with greenish yellow C. hensloioi. 



Head with a median light strijie. Under parts fine buff, with a yellowish white median line. 

 Sides streaked, but not the breast. Above light yellowish red, streaked with brownish 

 black C. lecontii. 



' CoTniiNionLns manimbe, Cabanis. — South America, Brazil. 

 Fringilla manimbe , Licht. Verz. 1823, 25. 

 Cotumiculus manimlic, Cabanis, Mus. Heiu. 1831,133. 



57 b 



