als se tiennent long temps a la méme place. Ils ne sortent 
point des grands bois, et ils se perchent toujours au plus 
haut des arbres les ey élevés, ou ils ne cherchent pas a se 
cacher.”” Azara Voy. 3, p. 407. 
The size and strength of the bill induced us, some years 
ago, to adopt the popular classification of this genus with 
the family of Shrikes ; but a more particular analysis of that 
and the neighbouring families, lead us to suspect that its 
natural situation is far different : our reasons for this belief 
will be stated at large in another work. For the present it 
may be remarked, that the smoothness of the rictus, as 
indicating a frugivorous habit, forbids us to place it with 
the Flycatchers; while the feet, perfectly different from 
those of the true Shrikes (Laniana, Sw.), can only be 
compared with those of the Piauhau (Buff). The affinity 
which this group bears to Gubernetes, is merely super- 
ficial: but its analogies to Ceblepyris, among the Laniadz, 
and to Pachycephata, among the Ampelidx, are probably 
direct. 
The merit of having first directed the attention of Orni- 
thologists to the singular spurious quill, which generally 
distinguishes the males of this group, we transfer from 
ourselves to Azara. His invaluable work we did not then 
possess, and knew not that the circumstance had already 
been mentioned by him. 
We are only acquainted with the genus Pachyrhynchus 
of Spix, by seeing this name affixed to our Psaris Cuvierii 
in the Paris Museum. The distinction is judicious; par- 
ticularly as the two groups point to different relations. Of 
Psaris, as now restricted, we know of six species, and of 
Pachyrhynchus, ten. 
Our present bird is osculent between these forms: we 
place it with Psaris on account of its wings and tail; but 
it accords with Pachyrynchus in the rictus being slightly 
bristled. The spurious quill is half the length of the first, 
which latter is as long as the fourth. The tail is ina slight 
degree rounded. It is, perhaps, needless to remark, that 
all these birds are confined to Equinoctial America. 
