ILLUSTRATIONS OF ORNITHOLOGY. 
PYCNOSPHIIYS GRAMMICEPS. 
“Sylvia grammiceps,” — Verreaux, MS. 
This curious little bird appears to belong to a new genus, which I 
propose to designate Pycnosphrys , from noxvo?, thick, and 6?<ppo?, the 
rump or loin, in reference to the length and density of the uropygial 
feathers. Its affinities are not easily determined. With the general 
form and coloration of a Sylviine bird, it unites the beak ot the 
Muscicapidce, and the dorsal plumage of the Timaliince. It must 
probably be regarded as belonging to the Muscicapidee , in which 
family we find at least one genus ( Philentoma ) possessing the 
same development of the dorsal feathers, though in other points of 
structure they are very distinct, the beak of Philentoma being 
more depressed, the rictal bristles longer, and the tarsi propor- 
tionally shorter, 
Generic Character. — Beak moderately depressed, the length 
almost double the breadth ; sides nearly straight, very slightly con- 
cave; the culmen rather sharp, straight for its basal third, then 
gradually curved to the tip, which is emarginate and slightly over- 
hangs the lower mandible ; margin of upper mandible very slightly 
decurved ; lower mandible nearly straight ; gonys gradually curved 
upwards ; nostrils ovate ; rictal bristles about half the length of 
the beak; wing of moderate length, rounded; first quill shoit, 
fourth and fifth longest ; uropygial feathers, very long,, thick, and 
decomposed; tail rather long, narrow, the rectrices pointed ; tarsi 
(for a Muscicapine bird) long; acrotarsia and paratarsia entire, 
toes moderately long ; external toe very slightly longer than t e 
inner; claws moderately curved, slender, acute. 
Head, nape, and cheeks, deep ferruginous, with an in stinct 
fuscous stripe on each side of the crown ; upper back grcyis 
brown; wings yellowish-olive; middle and greater co\eis tippe 
with yellowish-white ; rump-feathers long, silky, and pure white ; 
tail fuscous, margined externally with yellowish-olive towar s tie 
base; the outer pair of rectrices narrowly margined internally, and 
externally at the base, with whitish; chin whitish; breast tinged wit i 
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