PLATYCICHLA—SEMIMERULA. 33 
to find a name generic or specific, and which differs so very con- 
siderably from any other I have met with as to be well entitled to 
a new generic appellation. It was obtained by Dr. G. R. Horner, 
U.S. N., during the cruise of the Delaware many years ago, on the 
coast of South America, probably in Brazil. Two specimens similar 
to it are in the Philadelphia Academy. This may possibly be the 
Cichlopsis leucogenys, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1850, 54, or an allied species ; 
but I cannot reconcile it with the description of either genus or 
species by Cabanis. 
With the general appearance of a Planesticus, it differs markedly 
in having a short and very broad deeply cleft bill, much depressed 
at the base, and with moderate bristles. The diameter of the jaw 
across the base of lower mandible is .42, much greater than the 
length of gonys (.31), and at least equal to the distance from 
nostrils to end of bill, very different from what it isin Turdus migra- 
torius. The feet are weak. The tarsi are very short, being less 
than the middle toe and claw; they are booted, or without transverse 
divisions. The wings and tail are much as in 7urdus migratorius. 
In external form this bird exhibits quite an approach to the Ampe- 
lidx, especially to Myadestes, although evidently a Thrush; but its 
short broad bill and weak feet, with short tarsi, distinguish it from 
all others. 
s 
SEMIMERULA, Scrater. 
Semimerula, Scuatser, P. Z. 8. 1859, 332. (Type Turdus gigas.) 
Size large. Wings rather short and rounded, decidedly, but not 
considerably longer than the tail, which is slightly rounded. First 
quill in 7. gigas nearly one-half the 2d, in aurantius two-fifths ; 2d 
about equal to the 8th, or shorter than 7th; 5th longest. Bill large, 
in some specimens as long as the head. Legs stout and strong. 
Tarsi decidedly longer than the head. Color dusky all over. Sexes 
similar. 
parts are yellowish-olive ; crissum paler; the middle of belly and anal region 
whitish ash ; the throat feathers with shaft streaks and arrow spots of dusky, 
obscurely indicated on the jugulum; under wing coverts cinnamon; middle 
coverts with an occasional cinnamon spot. Total length, 8.40; wing, 4.45; 
tail, 3.80; exposed portion of first primary, .95; of second, 3.05; of longest 
(fourth, measured from exposed base of first primary), 3.30; bill: length 
from forehead, .80; from nostril, .43; along gape, .95; width of gape, .55; 
legs: tarsus, .95; middle toe and claw, 1.00; claw alone, .29; hind toe and 
claw, .68; claw alone, .35. 
3 July, 1864. 
