45 



not belong to this subgenus, and is to be placed in the neighbourhood 

 of rujinns, Spix, and circumcinctus, Sw., which have the same bill 

 and similar covering. 



We have only two species, pitangua and chrysocephalus, Tchudi, 

 in the section of Scaphorhynchus. 



Scaphorhynchus, with its broad bill, shorter and feebler tarsi and 

 toes, represents more the Swallow type, and must be placed in the 

 second rank of his genus. 



Before I finish I may allow myself the observation, that, till now, 

 the whole family of Muscicapidce has been in a condition of the great- 

 est confusion, and that the greatest number of genera must go down, 

 or must be considered as subgenera of some larger genera. As an 

 example of the way in which this is to be effected, I give for instance 

 the genus Psaris, into which I transplant three genera of the new 

 authors. 



Some remarks on the genus Psaris, Cuv. 



The genus Psaris, which is sjTionymous with Tityra, Vieill., is a 

 true genus, which cannot be considered as the only type of a sub- 

 family, and which cannot be divided into several genera. It is an 

 indivisible genus, which I have separated into some little subgenera 

 only. I prefer, from well-known reasons, the name Psaris. 



The characters of this genus are : — Thick, strong, slightly com- 

 pressed bill, without strong bristle-feathers on the mouth gape ; tarsi 

 moderately high, with broad scales on the front ; on the sides and 

 behind with small scales. The old males have the second hand wing- 

 feather abnormously short and of an unusual formation. The females 

 and young birds have the wings regular. 



The species of this large genus are limited to the southern parts of 

 America. 



a. Subgenus Chloropsaris. 



They have the bill and the feathered brum of the Pachyrhamphus, 

 but the wings are shorter and the tail more graduated. Size of a 

 Sparrow, colouring more variegated and greenish on the back. 



1. Psaris Cuvieri, Swains. Spix, tab. 45. 2. 



2. Ps. atricapillus. Muscicapa, Gmel. Enl. C. 871 ^ . 831 ? . 



3. Ps. versicolor. Vireo, Hartlaub. 



b. Subgenus Pachyrhamphus, G. Gray. 



The bill unicolor black, shorter than the head, not compressed on 

 the sides ; the bristle-feathers moderately long ; the abnormous hand- 

 feather like Chloropsaris, with broader inner webs and emarginated 

 only on the tip ; tail unicolor, very little graduated. Size ois. Lanius 

 colurio. The colouring is dark and not so variegated. 



We can give by the diagnosis the colouring of the abnormous hand- 

 feather of the males. 



