2334 The Zoologist — October, 1870. 



differences worthy of special mention ; except in the instance of the 

 type specimen, which is brownish above, from the faded and worn 

 condition of the plumage. 



This species has probably the southernmost range of any of the 

 family; occiirring in summer at Cape St. Lucas. It was observed by 

 the writer in December, 1865, off the coast of Mexico, about latitude 

 21® N. ! Its extension northward remains to be ascertained. At 

 present it is not known to occur north of the coast of Lower California. 

 Its southern habitat, as remarked by Prof, Baird, is a fact of great 

 interest, when it is recollected how truly boreal are nearly all the 

 species of the family. 



Brachyrhamphus Craveri (Salvad.), Coues. — This recently 

 described species has much the same habitat as B. hypoleucns, and 

 very much resembles the latter. The dimensions are the same in both, 

 and the colours are very nearly alike. Prof. Baird has received from 

 Sig. Salvadori, and kindly transmitted to the writer, a life-size figure 

 of the bird, accompanied by a note in which it is stated that " the 

 lining of the wings is blackish, and some feathers are white-edged." 

 This fact at once distinguishes the species from hypoleucus, providing 

 the latter, in all stages of plumage, has the under-siirfaces of the wings 

 white, as is most probable, judging by what is known of the variations 

 in plumage of the birds of this genus. 



Waiving the bare possibility of this bird being a young hypoleucus, 

 it cannot be referred to any described species, and must be regarded 

 as a valid one. That it is not breviroslris, Vigors, is sufficiently 

 evident from the dimensions, the tarsus of the latter being only half 

 an inch long. 



Brachyrhamphus brachypterus, Brandt. — " Supra cinerea, alis 

 caudaque uigricantibus. Collum sublus et in lateribus, pectus et 

 abdomen alba. Rostrum capitis dimidii circiter longitudine. 7am 

 diyilo medio longiores. Longitudine a rostri apice ad caudse apicem 9. 

 Patria Unalaschka." — Brandt, I. c. 



This species is wholly unknown, at least on this side of the Atlantic, 

 except by the above cited description of Brandt. It has nothing to 

 distinguish it from some other Brachyrhaniphi except the length of 

 the tarsus. This, however, if it really obtains, is sufficient to distinguish 

 the bird from all others, not only of the genus, but of the family; for 

 no known alcidine bird has the tarsi longer than the middle toe. 



(Ti) be conlinued.) 



