Mr. Swainson on several new groups in Ornithology. 173 



SIALIA. 



Rostrum breve, basi depressum^ lateribus compressis ; culmine 

 subelevuto : nuribus plumulis setaceis obieciis ; rictu tato, sub- 

 barbato. 



Alee elongatce ; remige l""" spuria^ brevissimd, Ida et 4'^' Jere 

 (BqualibuSy 3'" longissimd. 



Cauda subjurcata. 



Pedes breviusculi, subfortes ; tarsorum squamis laterulibus integris. 



Bill short, the base depressed, the sides compressed, culmen 

 slightly elevated : nostrils partly hid by setaceous feathers : 

 mouth wide, and slightly bearded. fVi/igs elongated, the first 

 quill very small ; the secoud nearly equal to the fourth, the 

 third longest. 2W/ slightly forked. Legs rather short, robust; 

 lateral scales of the tarsi entire. 



Type. Sj/lviu Sialia. Wilson, 1. pi. 2. f. 3. {Sialia IVilsonii. Sw.) 



The habits and economy of this bird are so peculiar, and unite 

 the characteristics of so many different families, that its natural 

 affinities are extremely doubtful. Its frugivorous habits, howeveri 

 have induced me, for the present, to place it at the confines of the 

 Thrushes. Its true situation I consider as one of the most inte- 

 resting points in the study of natural affinities.* 



Familtj Pipridce. 

 PIPRAEIDEA. 



Rostrum ut in genere Pipra. 



Alee elongatce) remigibus l'"^, l^d et 3''^ fere cequalibus^ longis- 



simis. 

 Cauda mediocris .fere aqual/s. 

 Pedes breves f sul)jortes ; digito exteriore medio ad basin con- 



Juncto: tarsorum squamis anterioribus divi^is plater alibus integris. 



Bill as in Pipra. Wings long, the first, second, and third quills 

 nearly equal and longest. Tail moderate, nearly even. Feet 



* I have recently received auoiher beautiful species from Mexico. 



