TAPACULO 947 
its allied forms, which are now found to constitute a small Family, 
Pteroptochidx, belonging to the 'Tracheophonous division of Passeres, 
and therefore peculiar to South America. About 20 species, dis- 
posed by Mr. Sclater (Cat. B. Br. Mus. xv. pp. 337-352) in 8 genera, 
are believed to belong to this group. 
The species of the Family first made known is Scytalopus 
magellanicus, originally described in 1783 by Latham (Gen. Syn. iv. 
p- 464) as a Warbler. Even in 1836 Gould not unnaturally took 
it for a Wren, when establishing the genus to which it is now 
referred ; but some ten years after Johannes Miiller found that 
Scytalopus, together with the true Tapaculo, which was first described 
by Kittlitz in 1830, possessed anatomical characters that removed 
them far from any position previously assigned to them, and deter- 
mined their true place as above given. In the meanwhile a kindred 
form, Hylactes, also first described in 1830, had been shewn by 
Eyton to have some very exceptional osteological features, and 
these were found to be also common to Pteroptochus and Scyta- 
lopus. In 1860 Professor Cabanis recognized the Pteroptochidex as a 
distinct Family, but made it also include MJenura (LYREBIRD, p. 
523), while some years later Mr. Sclater (bis, 1874, p. 191, note) 
thought that Atrichornis (SCRUB-BIRD, p. 820) might belong here. 
It was Garrod in 1876 and 1877 who finally divested the Family of 
these aliens, but, until examples of some of the other genera have 
been anatomically examined, it may not be safe to say that they all 
belong to the Pteroptochide. 
The true Tapaculo, P. albicollis, has a general resemblance in 
plumage to the females of some of the smaller SHRIKES (p. 845), and 
to a cursory observer its skin might pass for that of one; but its 
shortened wings and powerful feet would on closer inspection at 
once reveal the difference. In life, however, its appearance must 
be wholly unlike, for it rarely flies, hops actively on the ground or 
among bushes, with its tail erect or turned towards its head, and 
continually utters various and strange notes,—some, says Mr. 
Darwin, are “like the cooing of doves, others like the bubbling of 
water, and many defy all similes.” The “ 7’wrco,” its fellow-country- 
man, Hylactes megapodius, is larger, with greatly developed feet and 
claws, but is very similar in colour and habits. Two more species 
of Hylactes are known, and one other of Pteroptochus, all of which 
are peculiar to Chili or Patagonia. The species of Scytalopus are 
as small as Wrens, mostly of a dark - 
colour, and inhabit parts of Brazil 
and Colombia, one of them occur- : 
ring so far northward as Bogota." “Nagy x 
ConopopHaca, (After Swainson.) 
1 This may be the most convenient 
place to mention another South-American Family, Conopophagide, suggested by 
Garrod (Proc. Zool. Soc, 1877, p. 452), and subsequently shewn by Forbes (op. cit. 
