NOTIOCORYS. 419 



Family MOTxlClLLID^. 



The Wagtails ami Pipits, wLich consist of eight genera and a 

 large number of species, are chiefly distributed in the Old World. 

 Five of the genera however — Motacilla, A)itJius, Xeo<:ori/s^ Solio- 

 corijs, and Xanthocori/s — are^ represented in the New World, but 

 only two, Xotiocoyys and Xanthocorys, occur in South America. 

 When Brabourne and Chubb published their 'List of the Birds of 

 South America ' nine sjiecies were recorded, one of which is repre- 

 sented in British Guiana. 



The majority of the Pipits of America have hitherto been 

 included b}' most authors in the genus Antkus of Bechstein. 

 But as the species of the New World are, on an average, smaller 

 and of somewhat different appearance to those of the Old World, 

 I propose that they be generically separated under the title 

 introduced by Baird for the Guiana bird. 



Genus NOTIOCORYS Baird. 



Xofiocori/s Baird, Review American Birds, p. 1<3, lS6i. Type 

 X. liitescens (Less.). 



Fig. 159. — Notiocorys ahariensls. 



In this genus the bill is slender and pointed, the width at the 

 hinder portion of the nostrils is equal to about half the length of 

 the exposed culmen and the height almost equal to the width. 

 The wing has the first four outer primary-quills longest and sub- 

 etjual and exceeding tiio length of the tertials by about 15 mm. 

 The tail is nearly square at the tip and about three-fourths the 

 length of the wing. The tarsus is about twice the leu;^lh of the 

 ex[)Osed culmen. (Coloration : male and female siuiilar. 



2e2 



