FAM. HYPOSITTID&A 
BY C. E. HELLMAYR 
Hyposittida. Ridgway, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. Vol. 16, p. 125 (1903). 
Characters. Bill half as long as head, rather strong, decidedly widened at base, 
where its width is about equal to its depth, and somewhat compressed terminally; culmen 
slightly ridged, its apical portion distinctly curved, uncinate at tip; both maxillary and 
mandibular tomium with a slight, but distinct subterminal notch; gonys decidedly ascending 
terminally. Rictal bristles strongly developed, rather stiff, reaching over more than two-thirds 
of the whole bill. Nostrils basal, large, broadly oval, non-operculate, exposed, posteriorly 
concealed by the dense antrorse latero-frontal plumules as well as by some elongated, stiff 
bristles. Wing rather long, much rounded; fourth, fifth and sixth primaries nearly equal and 
longest; third about equal to seventh, both conspicuously shorter than the three longest 
primaries; second much shorter than third, about equal to ninth; first primary well-developed, 
though a little narrower than the following, somewhat longer than half the second; secondaries 
very broad, the outer ones decidedly longer than the innermost primaries; wing-tip much less 
than length of tarsus. Tail three-fourths as long as wing, very slightly rounded; rectrices of 
equal width with rounded tip. Tarsus about as long as middle toe without claw; acrotarsium 
booted; outer toe nearly as long as middle toe and united to the latter for the whole of its 
basal and half of its subbasal phalanges; inner toe only about half as long as outer toe and 
united to middle toe for the whole of its basal half; hallux fully as long as middle toe (without 
claw); claws much compressed, strongly arched with acute tip. Size small : Wing, 75-78; 
tail, 58-62 mm. 
Coloration. Sexes different. The male is coloured as follows : Narrow frontal edge, 
lores and chin velvety black; crown, back, upper tail- and upper wing coverts bright greenish 
blue; cheeks and ear coverts rather paler and duller blue; remiges and rectrices dusky, 
exteriorly washed and edged with dull greenish blue, Under parts dull blue, slightly shaded 
