homey AS SIRES 
3. GENUS MACHZ4ZEROPTERUS BONAPARTE 
. Macheropterus Bonaparte, Consp. Volucr. Anisod. p. 6 ({Sep ex. : Ateneo italiano, n° rr, August 
1854]. — No type indicated. Species mentioned : M. strvigilatus, M. striolatus and M. pyrocephalus. 
We may, therefore, regard M. strigilalus as the type species). 
Synonym : Allocotopterus Ridgway, Proc. Biolog. Soc. Washington, 18, p. 209 (1905). (Type : 
Pipra deliciosa Sclater.) 
Characters. The members of this brillant little group are very nearly allied to the 
typical Piprae, and the females, in form, scarcely differ from some of the smaller species. The 
males, however, present striking peculiarities in the structure of the inner secondaries, and of 
the tail feathers. The shafts of the rectrices are stiff, and thickened at the base, this character 
being equally well developed in all four species. Still more remarkable is the curious structure 
of the wing as exhibited by the male of 7. deliciosus and which 1s described by Mr. P.L. Sclater 
as follows : « The ten primaries are of the ordinary formation of birds of this family, the first 
being shorter than the second, third and fourth, which are nearly equal and longest, and of 
about the same length as the sixth. The first three secondaries are thick-stemmed and curved 
towards the body at a distance of about two-thirds of their length from the base. The fourth 
and fifth show this structure to a greater degree, with some corresponding alteration in the 
barbs on each side. In the sixth and seventh secondaries the terminal half of the rhachis is 
thickened to an extraordinary degree, forming a solid horny lump. The external and internal 
barbs are also much modified in shape and generally curtailed in size. In the eighth and ninth 
secondaries the rhachis is still rather thickened, but the barbs, instead of being reduced in 
size are highly developed, particularly on the inner side, » 
The three other species show a similar structure of the sixth, seventh and eighth secon- 
daries, although the abnormal growth is not carried to such an excess of development. The 
male of W.regulus differs from the others members of the genus by having the inner web of the 
two first primaries distinctly emarginated, and much narrowed on the tip. The shafts of the 
rectrices in the males of the four species are pure white, when seen from below, 
Sexes dissimilar, the males being clad in bright colours, while the females are incons- 
picuous green birds. 
Geographical Distribution. Ecuador, Colombia, the whole Amazonian region from 
the Caura valley in Venezuela down to Peru and Mattogrosso; as well as the woodregion of 
Southeastern Brazil from Bahia to Rio de Janeiro. 
KEYe LOH ESS PE CInS 
1. Top of the head (at least forehead and vertex) bright ved or yellow(O'G) . . . . »- «. . +» » =. 
— Top of the head green like the back (QQ) . . . . . sea Gy ran het Reins en oe an A 
2. Crown golden yellow with a longitudinal stripe of scarlet in the middle; 
nN 
back brownish vose colour; under parts pale vosy with darker flam- 
MUNGHIONS, (5) en ne, ee a ee es ee ee MIE PY ROGEPR TAUNTON ec 
— General colour chestnut brown, belly darker, forehead and crown 
brightved. th ou We ae Eos. Gl eee pericresncres 
