Page:Birds of North and Middle America partV Ridgway.djvu/215

Rh : Barnesia, Aves Nuevas del Paraguay, 1901, 77. (Type, Synallaxis curururi Bertoni = S. ruficapilla Vieillot.)

Small, wrenlike, long-tailed Furnariidæ (length about 130-150 mm.) with only 10 rectrices, and with tail not more than one and a half times as long as wing.

Bill much shorter than head, rather stout, moderately compressed, its width at loral antiæ about equal to its depth at same point and from one-third to one-half the distance from nostril to tip of maxilla; culmen gradually decurved from near base, the tip of maxilla not uncinate; tomia slightly decurved terminally, without trace of subterminal notch; gonys nearly straight, ascending terminally, at base forming a slight angle with lower edge of mandibular rami. Nostril exposed, posteriorly in contact with loral feathering, narrow (a longitudinal slit), overhung by a broad operculum. Rictal bristles wanting, and feathers of chin, etc., without terminal setæ. Wing rather short, very concave beneath, much rounded, the longer primaries exceeding secondaries by less (usually very much less) than length of exposed culmen; sixth and seventh, fifth, sixth, and seventh, or sixth, seventh, and eighth, primaries longest, the tenth (outermost) about two-thirds as long as the longest, the ninth shorter than secondaries (S. pudica, S. erytlirothorax) or very much longer (S. ruficapilla, S. albescens). Tail decidedly longer than wing to nearly one and a half times as long, graduated for more than half its length, the rectrices (10) usually acuminate, sometimes with webs thin or semi- decomposed. Tarsus nearly to much more than twice as long as bill from nostril, nearly to quite three-fifths as long as wing, stout, distinctly scutellate; middle toe, with claw, very slightly to decidedly shorter than tarsus; outer toe, without claw, reaching to slightly beyond subterminal articulation of middle toe, the inner toe very slightly shorter; hallux about as long as inner toe, but much stouter; basal phalanx of middle toe united for a little more than basal half to outer toe, for slightly less to inner toe; claws moderate in size and curvature, acute, that of the hallux much shorter than the digit.

Coloration. — Color partly cinnamon-rufous, this either on pileum, wings, or tail, sometimes on all three, occasionally on chest; otherwise plain olive, brown, gray, or sooty, usually paler (sometimes partly whitish) on under parts; no streaks, spots, nor bars. Sexes alike.

Nidijication. — Nest an extremely bulky retort-shaped structure composed outwardly of coarse sticks, built in bushes or low trees; eggs white, bluish-white, or pale bluish green.