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Show 1874.] MR. P. L. SCLATER ON THE GENUS SYNALLAXIS. 7 (1870.) P. Z. S. p. 840. S. wyatti is described by Sclater. (1871.) P. Z. S. p. 85. Remarks on Synallaxis candai by Sclater. (1872.) P. Z. S. p. 543 et seq. Mr. Hudson gives an account of the Synallaxes met with during his excursion to the Rio Negro of Patagonia-six species in all, which are determined by Sclater. (1872.) Lawrence (Ann. Lye. N. Y. x. p. 186) describes S. maculata (=stictothorax, mihi). (1873.) Journ. f. O. p. 319. Cabanis describes three new Synallaxes horn Jelski's Peruvian collections-S.humilis, S. albicapilla, and Schisoeaca palpebralis. A new genus, Schizoeaca, is made for the last species. (1873.) P. Z. S. p. 269. In their article on the birds of Eastern Peru, Sclater and Salvin mention five species of Synallaxis. The subdivision of the species of Synallaxis into minor groups a task of no ordinary difficulty. Of the numerous genera into which it has been proposed by some authors to arrange them I adopt only Oxyurus, Phleocryptes, and Leptasthenura, which alone seem to me to present sufficient structural differences for recognition. This leaves a mass of nearly sixty species in Synallaxis, which may be separated into two sections according as the rectrices are ten or twelve in number. I commence with the first of these subdivisions:- Div. A. Synallaxes normales, rectricibus decern. Sect. a. Species pileo alis et cauda rufis. 1. SYNALLAXIS RUFICAPILLA. Synallaxis ruficapilla, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xxxii. p. 310 (1819), et Enc. Meth. p. 622, et Gal. Ois. pi. 174; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 97, et 1859, p. 192 ; Cat. A. B. p. 150 ; Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 38 ; Pelzeln, Sitz. Akad. Wien, xxxiv. p. 116 ; Orn. Bras. p. 35. Sphenura ruficeps, Licht. Doubl. p. 42. Synallaxis cinereus, Max. Beitr. iii. p. 685. Synallaxis olivascens, Eyton, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 150. Fusca : pileo toto, alis extus et cauda rufis: striga postsuperciliari fiavicante : subtus cineracea, lateribus et crisso fusco perfusis subalaribus pallide cervinis : long, tota 6, alee 2-2, cauda 3 Hab; S.E. Brazil, prov. S. Paulo (Natt.). The true Synallaxis ruficapilla of Vieillot is confined to the southern part of the wood-region of S.E. Brazil. It is easily distinguishable from its congeners by the extension of the rufous head over the front, and the slight yellowish stripe behind the eye, which separates the rufous cap from the dark cinereous sides of the head. I have examined the typical specimens of <S. olivascens in Mr, Eyton's collection. They belong to this species. |