188 DENDEOCOLAPTID.E. 



Hah. Costa Rica, Monte Eedondo [Zeledon ^). 



"The only Central-American species at all closely related to the present one is 

 P. compressus. Cab., which comes rather close in the coloration of the upper parts, 

 which, however, are decidedly more rufescent ; but the lower parts are very decidedly 

 different, the lighter markings being in P. gracilis much paler (buffy whitish instead of 

 deep buff), and the blackish streaks much broader ; besides, P. compressus has the 

 bill much longer, and light brown instead of mainly blackish." {Bidgway, I. s. c.^) 



The above is Mr. Eidgway's description of this distinct species, no specimen of it 

 having as yet reached us. 



XIPHOEHYNCHUS. 



Xiphorhynchus, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 354 (1837) ; Chapman, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist, 

 ii. p. 153 (5 July, 1889) ; Scl. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. p. 158. 



The long arched bill possessed by all the members of this genus renders it easily 

 recognized. It is, in fact, an exaggeration of the bill of Picolaptes, being much longer 

 and more curved ; it is also compressed much more abruptly at and beyond the nostrils. 

 In other respects Xiphorhynchus is structurally like Dendrornis, Picolaptes, &c. 



Eegarding the number of species contained in the genus, authorities differ. Mr. 

 Sclater in his recent Catalogue admits six (including X. pucherani) ; Mr. Chapman 

 (excluding X. pucherani) recognizes nine species. We have only been partially into 

 the question of this difference of opinion, as we are now only concerned with two species ; 

 but though we think that X. trochilirostris as understood by Mr. Sclater is perhaps 

 too comprehensive a term, we are hardly disposed to carry its subdivision so far as 

 Mr. Chapman. Questions of this nature can only be settled by an examination of very 

 ample and well collected materials, and no sufficient number of specimens have been 

 yet got together to make a satisfactory decision possible. 



1. Xiphorhynchus trochilirostris. 



Dendrocolaptes trochilirostris, Licht. Abh. Ak. Berl. 1820, p. 207, t. 3 ' ; 1821, p. 263 '. 

 Xiphorhynchus trochilirostris, 'WiedL,'&e\tv. i\\. T^. 1140 (partim)"; Scl. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. 



p. 159 *. 

 Xiphorhynchus lafresnayanus, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 292 (nee d'Orb.) ^ 

 Xiphorhynchus venezuelensis, Chapman, Bull. Am. Mus. N. H. ii. p. 156°. 



Supra rufo-brunneus, uropygio, alls extus et cauda rubiginosis, pilei et cervicis plumis nigris stria rhachidali 

 cervina, ad dorsum anticum angustioribus : subtus fusco-brunneus, plumis omnibus (abdomine et crisso 

 exceptis) cervino-albido medialiter striatis, pectoris striis angustioribus, guise et cervicis latioribus 

 nigricanti-fusco utrinque marginatis, subalaribus et remigibus intus (prseter apices) cinnamomeis : rostro 

 rubido, pedibus plumbeis. Long, tota 9-5, alee 3-6, caudae 3, rostri a riotu (chord) 2-7, tarsi 0-8. (Deser. 

 exempl. ex Panama. Mus. nostr.) 



(J et $ similes. 



