PHYTOTOMID.E. 163 



In January 1887, Durnford met with a pair of this species of Becard 

 in the riverain wood near Belgrano, and secured the male. They were 

 busy catching flies, making frequent sallies from a willow tree in 

 pursuit of them. Mr. Barrows obtained three specimens of what was 

 probably the same bird at Concepcion in Entrerios, in November 

 1886 (see Bull. Nutt. Orn. 01. viii. p. 203) . 



a. First primary of a male Pachyrhamphus. 



b. Second ditto. 



In the male of this species, as in many other Becards, the second 

 primary is abnormally shortened, being only about one inch in length. 

 See remarks on this subject in P. Z. S. 1857, p. 72, whence the wood- 

 cut exhibiting this strange feature is taken by kind permission. 



174. CASIORNIS RUBRA (VieilL). 

 (RUFOUS CHEESE-BIRD.) 



Suiriri roxo, Azara, Apunt. ii. p. 128. Casiornis rubra, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl 

 p. 57. 



Description. Above uniform ferruginous, lores paler ; beneath lighter, belly 

 yellowish ; bill horn-colour, yellowish at the base ; feet plumbeous : whole 

 length 6-8 inches, wing 3-4, tail 3-1. Female similar. 



Hob. S. Brazil, Paraguay, and N. Argentina. 



White obtained a female specimen of this bird at Campo Colorado, 

 Oran, in November 1880 ; it is now in Sclater's Collection. 



Fam. XVI. PHYTOTOMID.E, OB PLANT-CUTTERS. 



The peculiar form Phytotoma, remarkable for its toothed Fringilline 

 bill, was associated by the older authors with the Finches. But 

 modern researches have shown that it is not an Oscinine genus, and 

 that its true place is near the Cotingida ; indeed, some authors have 

 placed it within the limits of that family. 



Of the four known species of Plant-cutters, all restricted to South 

 America, one is a well-known denizen of the Argentine Republic. 



M2 



