mandible then recurved or subfalcate), the extreme tip sometimes slightly decurved; gonys gently convex, strongly ascending terminally, more strongly convex and sometimes rather prominent basally. Nostril exposed, posteriorly in contact with loral feathering, very small, broadly oval or roundish, non-operculate, but margined above by a very narrow concave membrane. Rictal bristles wanting, and feathers of chin, etc., without terminal setæ. Wing moderate, rather pointed, the longest primaries exceeding secondaries by less than length of bill from nostril to more than length of exposed culmen; sixth and seventh, sixth, seventh, and eighth, or fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, primaries longest, the tenth (outermost) between two- thirds and three-fourths as long as the longest, the ninth much longer than secondaries. Tail four-fifths as long as wing to very slightly longer than wing, rounded or graduated (graduation equal to from about one-ninth to more than one-third its total length), the rectrices (12) subacuminate. Tarsus longer than culmen, less than one-fourth to nearly one-third as long as wing, distinctly scutellate; middle toe, with claw, slightly shorter to slightly longer than tarsus; outer toe, without claw, reaching to about middle of subterminal phalanx of middle toe, the inner toe slightly shorter; hallux about as long as outer toe but decidedly stouter; basal phalanx of middle toe united for much the greater part to outer toe, for at least half to inner toe; claws rather large, strongly curved, and acute, that of the hallux decidedly shorter than the digit.
Coloration. — Above brown or olive, the pileum and back sometimes narrowly streaked with buffy or whitish, the former usually much duller (grayer) or more dusky; upper tail-coverts and tail cinnamon- rufous or chestnut; a more or less distinct (usually conspicuous) superciliary stripe (often an orbital ring also) of buff or ochraceous; under parts plain light buffy brown or yellowish brown, paler (yellowish or buffy) on throat, or conspicuously streaked or flammulated. Sexes alike.
Range. — Southern Mexico to Peru, Bolivia, southeastern Brazil, and Venezuela. (About thirteen species.)[1]
KEY TO THE SPECIES OF XENICOPSIS.
a. Throat buffy or yellowish, chest light buffy brownish.
- b. Hindneck, upper back, and chest not streaked; upper tail-coverts brown, concolor with back; smaller (wing less than 90).
- ↑ Of these the following have been examined in this connection: X. rufosuperciliatus (Lafresnaye), X. oleagineus Sclater, X. subalaris (Sclater), X. percnopterus Oberholser, X. variegaticeps Sclater, X. striaticollis (Sclater), X. temporalis (Sclater), and X. anxius (Bangs). The last four of these differ from typical Xenicopsis in much less graduated tail, relatively much longer wing and shorter tarsus, and unstreaked lower parts, and constitute a very well defined group, possibly a distinct genus.
