ALECTRURINiE. 





Arundinicola D' Orb. $ Lafr.* 



Bill rather long, slightly depressed, and straight, with the culmen rounded, and slightly sloping to 

 the tip, which is suddenly curved and emarginated ; the sides gradually compressed ; the gonys long 

 and ascending ; the nostrils basal, rounded, and exposed. Wings rather short ; with the first quill very 

 short ; the second longer than the third, narrowed throughout, and acutely pointed ; the third 

 shorter than the fourth, which is shorter than the fifth, the longest of all. Tail rather short, broad, 

 and rounded. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, slender, and covered with broad scales. Toes long ; 

 with the outer toe longer than the inner, and united at the base ; the hind toe long; the claws long, 

 slender, curved, and acute. 



The species are inhabitants of the warmer portions of South America. 



1. A. leucocephala (Pall.) Pr. Max. Abbild. zur Naturg. Bias. t. ) 2. A. fiaviventris D'Orb. & Lafr. Voy. dans 1'Amer. Mer. p. 

 . — Muscicapa dominicana Spix, Av. Bras. t. 29- f- 1., Lath, i 335. 

 Gen. Syn. pi. 29., Levaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 159. ?, Azara, No. 176. 



Alectruuus Vieill.-f 



Bill short, rather depressed, and very broad at the base, with the culmen slightly curved, and the 

 sides compressed to the tip, which is emarginated ; the gonys long and slightly ascending ; the gape 

 furnished with long prominent bristles ; the nostrils lateral, with the opening rounded and exposed. 

 Wings moderate, with the third and fourth quills nearly equal and longest ; the first quill usually 

 singularly formed . Tail more or less long, composed of differently formed feathers, and sometimes 

 compressed. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, slender, and covered in front with transverse scales. 

 Toes long ; the lateral toes nearly equal ; the hind toe long ; the claws long, slender, slightly curved, 

 and very acute. 



The species that compose this division are found in the warmer parts of South America. 



]. A. tricolor Vieill. — Muscicapa alector Pr. Max. Temm. PI. 

 col. 155. ; M. alectrura Vieill. ; Alectrura Azarse Swains. Nat. Libr. 

 x. Flyc. pi. 6., Azara, No. 225. 



2. A. guirayetapa Vieill. — Muscicapa psalura Temm. PI. col. 

 286. 296.; M. risoria Vieill. Gal. des Ois. t. 131. ; Yetapa psalura 

 Less. Azara, No. 226. 



GUBERNETES Such.% 



Bill short, depressed, rather strong, and broad at the base, with the culmen slightly curved, and the 

 sides compressed to the tip, which is emarginated ; the gonys long and slightly ascending ; the gape 

 furnished with bristles ; the nostrils lateral, and placed in a short membranous groove, with the 



* MM. U'Orbigny and Lafresnaye established this genus in 1839. 



■j- It was in 18 16 that Vieillot established this genus. Xenurus of M. Boie (1826) and Muscipipra of M. Lesson (1831) are 

 synonymous. 



% Mr. Such established this division in 1825. 



