DENTIROSTRES. 81 



malalarica and others, the number of remiges is nineteen, so that the first primary is present, 

 although small, and the second is also abbreviated. According to the length of the other 

 primaries, the species forms two groups. In M. malabarica and a second undetermined species 

 with a very strongly graduated tail the third and fourth are the longest ; in the others sometimes 

 thefourf/i Kad. fifth, as in M. luctuosa, yrisola, and caerulea ; sometimes the ffth and sixth, as in 

 M. bambusae, and another species, which is distinguished by a much longer and broader bill, has 

 no graduated tail-feathers, and rather appears to be a Platyrhynchus. I found only eighteen 

 remiges, of which the third and fourth are the longest, in M. ruticilla and an allied species 

 from Mexico. 



b. With a space in the saddle of the spinal tract. 

 a. The large space occupies the whole saddle. 



(All the members of this section with which I ain acquainted are distinguished, not only by 

 the form of the saddle, but also by the covering of the tarsus, which consists of half-bands only in 

 front, and behind of small elliptical scales, with a row of larger ones along the outer side close to 

 the half-bands. It is remarkable that this tarsal covering occurs in the Ampelidas, which are 

 likewise furnished with a large ephippial space. BURM.). 



1. Psaris TEMM. Saddle and its space of quite enormous size, but rhombic and acute- 

 angled. Temporal space not present. First primary but little shorter than the second ; third 

 longest in P. cayatia and P. leucospilon ,- in P. valida (Le Distingue noir of Azara) the second 

 primary is remarkably small, with' the inner vane diminished and pointed (another structure which 

 reminds us of the Ampelidce BuRM.). 1 



2. Tyrannus Cuv. Saddle more elongated, the space narrower, but still fully as long as 

 the acute-angled saddle. First primary but little shorter than the second, both these and also 

 the following ones remarkably acute in many cases. Margins of the mandibles of the large 

 broad bill covered with fine velvety denticulations, at least in many species, such as Lanius 

 tyrannus, L. pitanyua, and Muse, cayennensis. I have found pointed first primaries in L. tyranmts 

 and L. despotes. I have also examined Muse, audax LATH., and M. legatus LICBT. 



3. Platyrhynchus. I have carefully examined only one species of this group, namely, 

 P. hirundinaceits SPIX (P. rupestris NEU WIED). It has precisely the pterylosis of the pre- 

 ceding genus, but the saddle is weaker, especially at its hinder part, which encloses the space 

 only with two rows of single contour-feathers. 



/3. The space minute, visible only at the end of the saddle in front of the origin of the rump-land. 

 Drymopldla carinata TEMM., PL Col., 418. This beautiful bird is distinguished pterylo- 



1 The small second primary is found in the adult males of all the species of Psaris, or Tityra, 

 as it is more correctly termed. (See remarks in P. Z. S., 1857, p. 67.) There can be no question of 

 the intimate connection between this group and the Cotingidee (Ampelida of Burmeister), and they 

 are placed together by all the best modern authorities, P. L. S. 



11 



