200 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Neotropical 
straight culmen and up-turned gonys, the almost entire ob¬ 
literation of the divisions of the tarsal scutes renders it easily 
distinguishable. 
1. Liosceles thoracicus. 
Pteroptochus thoracicus, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 609, 
pi. xxxviii.; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 46. 
Liosceles thoracicus, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 76. 
Supra fulvo-brunneus, dorso saturatiore; tergi postici plu- 
mis laxis elongatis, pallido fulvo et nigro vix conspicue 
transvittatis: alarum tectricibus albo maculatis, fascia 
submarginali nigricante : subtus albus; pectore sulphu- 
rascente, plumis mediis pallido rufo terminatis, plagam 
pectoralem formantibus : loris, superciliis et lateribus 
cervicis albo nigroque variegatis; pectore laterali cum 
ventre toto brunneis, albo nigroque squamulatis: rerni- 
gibus et rectricibus fere unicoloribus fuscis; secundari- 
orum externorum marginibus dorso concoloribus ; rostro 
superiore nigro, inferiore albo; pedibus corylinis : long, 
tota 6*6, alse 3*0, caudse 3*0, tarsi 1*1, rostri a rictu 0*8. 
Hab. Amazonia in ripis fl. Madeira. 
Mus. Yindob. et P. L. S. 
This bird in general colours approaches most nearly to 
Pteroptochus albicollis of Chili, but is readily known by the 
pure w r hite breast and mid-belly and the curious pectoral 
spot. It is also considerably inferior in size, and rather 
smaller than P. rubecula —hitherto the smallest known species 
of the genus. The bill (see p. 199) is differently shaped from 
that of P. albicollis or any of its allies : it is short and straight, 
the culmen being straight nearly to the extremity, and the 
gonys curved upwards rather rapidly towards the point. It is 
compressed much as in P. albicollis. The tarsi are rather 
shorter and by no means so strong as in P. albicollis, and their 
anterior surface, as far as I can judge from my single specimen 
(the feet of which are not in very good order), nearly smooth, 
the divisions of the scutella being almost obsolete, and nearly 
imperceptible. The claws are short and curved, as in other 
members of the genus. The wings are short and rounded, 
the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth primaries being 
nearly equal and longest. 
