1870.] MR. D. G. ELLIOT ON NEW BIRDS. 243 
3. Upper part of head blackish ; throat, ear-coverts, and upper 
part of breast intensely black. Back and lower part of breast very 
dark slate-colour, almost black. Tail brownish black. A concealed 
white spot in the centre of the back. The feathers of the rump 
very long and soft. Primaries blackish brown ; secondaries lighter 
brown. Bill large, very straight on the culmen, black on the upper 
mandible; under mandible with a very strong upward curve, com- 
mencing at the base, and, in the specimen, extending beyond and 
above the point of the upper mandible, dark lead-colour. The form 
of the lower mandible in this specimen is probably abnormal, as it 
shows no indication of protruding in the bill of the young male before 
me. Legs and feet black ; claws very long and slender, black. 
Total length 64 inches; wing 33, tail 23, bill at gape 1, tarsus 43. 
A young male, just commencing to throw off the colours of the 
female has the head and upper of neck and throat rich chestnut- 
brown interspersed with the black feathers of the adult. Back and 
underparts lead-colour, the tips of the feathers reddish brown. Tail 
black. Bill like the male, but slightly broader, the under mandible 
not extending beyond the upper. Feet and tarsus black, claws long 
and slender. 
Total length 6 inches; wing 3, tail 23, bill at gape 1, tarsus +4. 
Hab. Rio Napo. 
This extraordinary form of Formicariide is apparently an exag- 
geration of Mr. Sclater’s genus Neoctantes*, to which it seems to 
be nearest allied. In many respects resembling the members of the 
genus Thamnophilus, it yet differs greatly from them in the form of 
the bill, and shape and size of the feet and claws. In appearance 
it resembles Neoctantes niger, but is more of a plumbeous colour 
than that species ; and the bill is larger, straighter upon the culmen, 
and the under mandible more decidedly and abruptly curved upward. 
The feet are larger, and the claws much longer and more curved. 
I have named the species after Dr. Alix, of Paris, well known for 
various scientific publications. 
The examples from which my description was taken are contained 
in the fine collection of the Museum of Natural History of New 
York. 
CALAMOHERPE SUBFLAVESCENS. 
Olivaceo-brunneus : subtus flavescens ; linea superciliari flava ; 
hypochondriis et pectore superiore olivascentibus ; tectricibus 
alarum et remigibus brunneis; mandibula flava, mazilla 
brunnea. 
Hab. Dahouria. 
Entire upper parts olive-brown ; a line over the eye yellow; under- 
parts yellow, brown upon the flanks. Wings and tail dark olive- 
brown. Lower mandible yellow; upper dark brown. Tarsi and 
feet flesh-colour. 
Total length 63 inches; wings 3, tail 3, tarsus 1, bill 56. 
This bird, which is apparently undescribed, comes from Dahouria, 
* Described P. Z. 8. 1868, p. 572. 
