PLATYEHTNCHUS. 5 



over the forests of the tropical portion of the neotropical region. Three species occur 

 within our limits, whereof P. cancrominus has the most northern range, extending from 

 the Mexican State of Vera Cruz to Nicaragua. An allied form, P. albogularis, takes its 

 place in Costa Eica and thence spreads through Western Ecuador and Venezuela. 

 Both these birds have near allies in South America in P. saturatus of Guiana and 

 P. mystaceus of Guiana and Brazil. The third species is P. sujperciliaris, which extends 

 from the State of Panama to Guiana and has a close ally in P. coronatus of Eastern 

 Ecuador. 



The general plumage of Platyrhynchus is brown or olive on the upper surface 

 and ochraceous-yellowish or white on the under surface ; the males, and sometimes 

 the females, have a distinct occipital crest which can be laid open or closed by the 

 surrounding feathers at will. The bill is a very characteristic feature, being very broad 

 and with the lateral margins convex, the width at the base about = | the tomia ; the 

 upper surface is much flattened, the culmen slightly depressed but more abruptly so 

 towards the tip, on either side of which there is a deep notch ; the nostrils are round 

 and open, at the end of the nasal fossa. The tarsi and feet are very slender, the former 

 covered with a single sheath ; the outer toe is a little longer than the inner. The 

 wing is short and rounded, 4th quill longest, 3rd=5th, 2nd=6th, lst<8th. The tail 

 is short and nearly square, < twice tarsus, =^ wing. 



a. Stria superciliaris nulla. 

 1. Platyrhynchus cancrominus. 



Platyrhynchus cancroma, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 295^, 1859, p. 384°; Sumicbrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. 



N. H. i. p. 557=. 

 Platyrhynchus cancrominus, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 299 * ; Ibis, 1860, p. 399 ' ; Nutt. & Eidgw. 



Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 384°; Scl. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xiv. p. 66'. 



Supra Timbrino-brunneus ; capite summo obscuriore et crista abscondita flava ornato ; alia et cauda nigricanti- 

 brunneis obscure ciimamomeo limbatis ; superciliis a naribus, ciliis et abdomine medio pallida ochraceis ; 

 gula tota alba; pectore et hypoohondriis paUide umbrino-brunneis : rostri maxilla nigra, mandibula 

 pallida, pedibus carneis. Long, tota 4-0, alse 2'35, caudse 1"2, rostri a rictu 0"7, tarsi 0*6. (Deser. maris 

 ex Volcan de Agua, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 

 $ mari similis, crista verticali nulla. 



Edb. Mexico, Hot region of the State of Vera Cruz {Sumichrast ^), Cordova {Salle i), 

 Playa Vicente {JBoucard 2) ; British Honddeas, Orange Walk ( Gaumer) ; Guate- 

 mala, Choctum ^ s, Teleman, Volcan de Agua above San Diego, El Paraiso {0.S.& 

 F. D. G.) ; NiCAEAGUA, Sucuya {Nutting ^). 



An inhabitant of the hot region of the State of Vera Cruz ^ and of the forests 

 bordering both oceans in Guatemala, and, according to Mr. Eidgway, occurring as far 

 south as the banks of the San Juan del Norte river in Nicaragua ^. Salle observed it as 

 high as Cordova in Mexico i, and we found it at an elevation of about 3000 feet in the 

 Volcan de Agua, 1200 feet at Choctum *, and at about 300 feet at Paraiso, a hacienda 



