18CG.J MR. P. L. SCLATER ON THE GENUS GEOBATES. 205 



Upon reference to Prince Maximilian of Neuwied's well-known 

 ■ Beitrage zur Naturgeschichte von Brasilien,' it is at once evident that 

 Natterer has done rightly in referring his species to that author's 

 Anthus pcecilopterus, the bird in question being described with the 

 usual accuracy of that excellent work, although referred to a genus 

 with which it has nothing more than an analogical relationship. 

 But it is even possible we may have to go still further back for the 

 earliest name of this little bird. Burmeister* considers Prince 

 Maximilian's Anthus pacilopterxts identical with the " Alonttra 

 parda" of Azara (Apunt. vol. ii. p. 11. no. 147), upon which "Vieillot 

 founded his Anthus fuscus (Nouv. Diet. xvi. p. 490, et Enc. Meth, 

 p. 325). However, upon referring to Azara's original description, 

 I do not think it sufficiently precise to warrant us in rejecting the 

 Prince of Neuwied's name in favour 'of this somewhat doubtful 

 synonym. So, until some modern naturalist shall have visited Para- 

 guay and more clearly identified Azara's Alondra parda than it is 

 possible to do from the old Spaniard's description, I propose to call 

 the present species 



Geobates pcecilopterus. (PI. XXI.) 



Anthus pcecilopterus, Max. Beitr. hi. p. 633 (1830). 

 Geobates brevicauda, Sw. An. in Men. p. 322 (1838) ; Cab. Mus. 

 Hein. ii. p. 22; Beichenb. Handb. p. 215 ; Bp. Consp. p. 215. 

 Geositta brevicauda, Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 134. 

 Anthus fuscus, Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 120. 



Supra fuscus, uropyyio rufescente ; superciliis fuhis : alis cinna- 



momeo-rufis, nigro-fasciatis, primariorum quatuor externorum 



apicibns nigris : cauda quoque cinnamomeo-rufa, vitta subapi- 



cali nigra ; subius pallide fidvus, gutture albo, pectore fusco 



variegato : rostro corneo, mandibulce inferioris basi et pedibus 



favis : long, tota A' b poll. Angl., alee 2'9, caudce 1*5, rostri a 



rictu 0*/, tarsi 0'7. 



Hab. in Brasil. int. Minas Geraes (Max.) ; S. Paolo et Ypanema 



(Natt., sp. no. 336). 



The correct position of this little bird in the natural system is 

 evidently that assigned to it by Cabanis and Bonaparte — among the 

 Furnariince or terrestrial group of the Dendrocolaptidce — close to 

 Geositta. Mr. G. R. Gray has united it to Geositta ; but I think 

 it has full claims to stand by itself, being distinguished from the 

 latter genus by its short and perfectly straight beak, very short pri- 

 maries and elongated secondaries (which are exactly of the same 

 length as the primaries), short tail, and short and small hind claw. 



The bird recently described by Burmeister as Geobamon rufpetmis 

 (Journ. f. Orn. viii. p. 249, et La Plata Beise, ii. p. 465) seems to 

 be somewhat allied to the present form. 



* Syst. Ueb. d. Th. Bras. iii. p. 120. 



