A REVIEW OF THE GENUS SCLERURUS OF SWAINSON. 



BY 



Robert Ridgway, 



Curator of the Department of Birds. 



The following attempt at a revision of the species of this difficult 

 genus was brought about by the necessity of determining certain un- 

 named speciineus in the National Museum collection. It has proved a 

 difficult task, rendered particularly so by the confusion of synonyms 

 which had to be unraveled, caused, in part, by the unnecessary " lump- 

 ing together" of forms whicb, on comparison of specimens, are found 

 to be perfectly distinct, although it is probable some of them will re- 

 quire a trinomial title when they shall have been found to iutergrade 

 witli others. For the exact purposes of modern ornithological science 

 it is necessary to recognize such forms by name, their habitat being as 

 well defined as that of perfectly distinct species, and their distinctive 

 characters often, within a given area, as marked. 



I have fortunately been able to examine a number of specimens kindly 

 lent for the purpose by the authorities of the American Museum of Nat- 

 ural History, in New York City, to whom my thanks are due, as well as 

 to Dr. P. L. Sclater, of London (now engaged in the preparation of the 

 catalogue of the birds of this family in the British Museum), for the 

 loan of an example of S. albogularis (Swains.), from Venezuela. 



Genus Sclerurus Swainson. 



Sclerurus Swains., Zool. Jour., 1827, 35G (type, S. albogularis Swains). 



Scelurus Burm., Th. Bras., Ill, 1856, 45. 

 Tinactor Max., Beitr., in, 1831, 1106 (type, T. fuscus Max.). 



Oxypyga Menetr., Mem. de FAcad. St. Petersb., vi ser., Sci. Nat., i, 1835, 519 (type, 

 O. scansor M£xETR.,=Myiothera umbretta Licht.). 



Generic Char. — Similar to Furnarius, Vieill., but tail-feathers with 

 very stiff, acuminate-pointed shafts, wing more rounded, tarsi shorter 

 and much more compressed. Bill slender, nearly straight to near tip, 

 where rather abruptly decurved ; nostrils exposed, oval, with small 

 overhanging membrane ; third, fourth, and fifth quills longest, the first 

 shortest ; tail decidedly shorter than wing, much rounded or graduated; 

 tarsus about equal to exposed culmeu (sometimes a little longer, some- 

 times a little shorter), much compressed, distinctly scutellate ; middle 

 toe (without claw) decidedly shorter than tarsus; lateral claws very un- 

 equal in length (outer much the longer); hind toe very stout (about 

 equal to the outer in length), with claw very large. Color : Plain 



Proceedings Natioaal Museum, Vol. XII— No. 762. 



