Pachyrhynchus. Spix. Rictus bearded, bill shorter, wings more rounded, tail lengthened, graduated.
Type, Psaris niger.—Nob.
Specific Character.
Blackish brown, beneath pale fulvous, base of the wings with a concealed snowy spot, spurious quill broad, crown black, slightly crested.
Psaris cristatus. Sw. in Zool. Journ. 2, p. 354.
Mus. Paris. Nost.
Of this very rare species we know but of two specimens, both of which appear to have come from the mining provinces of Brazil. The economy of these interesting birds has not yet been detected, even by naturalists who have lived in their native regions. The indefatigable Azara professes his ignorance on this point, but states some valuable information on a species (nearly allied to the Cayenne Saris) named by him Le Distingué a tête Noir, which, in Paraguay, is a bird of passage: its flight is elevated, rapid, and prolonged. "Ils ne sont ni farouches, ni remuans, et ils se tiennent long temps à la même place. Ils ne sortent point des grands bois, et ils se perchent toujours au plus haut des arbres les plus èlevés, où ils ne cherchent pas à se cacher." Azara Voy. 3, p. 407.
The size and strength of the bill induced us, some years ago, to adopt the popular classification of this genus with the family of Shrikes; but a more particular analysis of that and the neighbouring families, lead us to suspect that its natural situation is far different: our reasons for this belief will be stated at large in another work. For the present it may be remarked, that the smoothness of the rictus, as indicating a frugivorous habit, forbids us to place it with the Flycatchers; while the feet, perfectly different from those of the true Shrikes (Laniana, Sw.), can only be compared with those of the Piauhau (Buff.). The affinity which this group bears to Gubernetes, is merely superficial: but its analogies to Ceblepyris, among the Laniadæ, and to Pachycephala, among the Ampelidæ, are probably direct.