OBSERVATIONS ON THE GENUS SCYTALOPUS 
in his Cent. Zool., pl. 30, and in his Tr. d’ Orn., p. 397, in 1831; 
Malacorhynchus, by Ménétriés, in his Monogr. des Myothera, in 
1834; Scytalopus, by Gould in the Proceedings, 1836, p. 90; and 
Platyurus by Swainson in 1837, as it is indicated by Mr. Gray in 
his Genera of Birds, vol.i., Sub. fam. MENURIN, gen. Pteroptochus, 
and as I had myself observed in the Revue Zool, of Guérin in 1840, 
p. 104; therefore it is not difficult to conclude, that Merulaxis being 
the most ancient is naturally to be adopted, and the Merulaxis ater 
of Lesson, the type of the genus, having for subsequent synonymes, 
Platyurus corniculatus, Swains., and Malacorhynchus cristatellus, 
Ménétriés. 
We think that all the species of Merulaais known by us to the 
number of sixteen or seventeen, present so great an analogy in 
the structure and form of their bill and nostrils, their wings and 
tail, and specially in the length of their toes, and the coloration 
and softness of their plumage, that it is more conformable to nature 
to place them in one genus only, than to divide them into three 
genera, as they are in the Conspectus Avium, p. 206. 
We propose to adopt several sections in the genus Merulaxis, as 
Galeati, Rhinolophi, Albiventres et Concolores, which will facilitate 
the study of the species. 
Gen. Mrrunaxis, Less.— Malacorhynchus, Ménét.— Scytalopus, 
Gould. — Platyurus, Swains. 
A. Gatxati (rostri culmine in spatio frontali, horizontali erecto 
limbo circumdato). 
1. Merulaxis paradoaus—Troglodytes paradoxus, Kittlitz iiber 
einige vogel yon Chili, pl. 9. Malacorhynchus chilensis, Méntt., 
Monog. des Myothera, pl. 89 (ex Chili), Triptorhinus paradowus, 
Caban. Bon. Consp. Avium, p. 204. 
2. M. orthonya, Lafr. Rey. Zool., 1843, p. 181, et Mag. de 
Zool. 1844, pl. 93, Triptorhinus orthonya, Caban. Bon. Consp. AY- 
p. 206 (ex Columbia). 
B. Ruryorornt (rostri culmine basi elevato, compresso, plumulis 
frontalibus longiusculis erectis). 
3. M. ater, Less., Cent. Zool. tab, 30, et Tr. d’ Orn. p- 397. 
Malacorhynchus cristatellus, Ménét:, Mem. Ac. Petersb. 1834, t- 12. 
Platyurus corniculatus, Sw. Brazil Birds, t. 55, 56 (ex Brazil, Rio 
de Janeiro), Sarochalinus ater, Caban. Bon. Consp. p. 206. 
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