114 REVIEW OF AMERICAN BIRDS. [PART I. 
T have not had the opportunity of examining the IZ. bambla— 
type of the genus—and have taken the philomela, a near ally, as 
the standard of reference. This has the general appearance of 
Cyphorinus, but with still shorter and more rudimentary tail; a bill 
less compressed, and elevated at base, and more decurved at tip; the 
wings more rounded. The most remarkable peculiarity is seen in 
the nostrils, which, instead of being single, as is usual among birds, 
are double, or with two openings. The specimens of philomela do 
not show the characters very satisfactorily, but one opening is appa- 
rently crescent-shaped, against the lower side of the nasal groove 
near the anterior extremity; the chord of the are nearly parallel 
with the commissure. The upper border of the aperture is thus 
formed by a semi-lunar valvular scale, which may fit down close, 
leaving only a free rounded aperture behind. Above the posterior 
end of this opening is another one, shorter, more circular, and 
against the upper edge of the nasal groove. The septum or bridge 
between the two is narrow: sometimes reduced to a subjacent ridge, 
in which case the nasal aperture appears single externally. 
It is possible that I have misinterpreted the indications of the 
specimens before me, and that the characters of the nostyils is suffi- 
ciently like that in Cyphorinus not to authorize generic separation. 
The species assigned by Sclater to Microcerculus, excepting C. 
albigularis, which is a Pheugopedius, form two sections: one with 
bambla as type, with tail soft and less than half the wings; the bill 
higher; the culmen more elevated and nearly straight above. The 
wing; the bill still lower than in the last, and more Wren-like; the 
nostrils not so much doubly perforate, as with one large oval aper- 
ture in the anterior extremity of nasal groove divided by a nearly 
horizontal septum, which shows in the aperture without being 
united to it, constituting a free septum rather than a bridge; some- 
times reaching up to the level of the aperture, and sometimes low 
and inconspicuous. The tarsal scales are sometimes distinct on the 
outer side, sometimes completely fused into one with the lateral 
plates (leucophrys). To this second section, perhaps generic form, 
I propose to give the name of Heterorhina. 
Microcerculus philomela. 
Cyphorinus philomela, Sarviy, P. Z. S. 1861, 202 (Guatemala).—Scr. 
Catal. 1861, 358 (Microcerculus).—Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Lye. VII, 
1862; Birds Panama, IIT, no. 311.—Cyphorinus bambla, Lawr. Ann. 
N. Y. Lyc. VII, 1861, 320, no. 185 (iris brown). 
Hab. Guatemala to Isthmus Panama. 
