NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 557 



omae fuliginosum ; abdomine circa anum albicante ; fronte fusco-cinerea." 

 The dimensions are given as length 14 inches; bill 1.50; tarsus and toes 2.75. 

 This description in all respects applies very exactly to a stage of plumage a 

 little more adult than that characterized as Anous Vherminieri, in which the 

 under parts have become lighter, and there are signs of the white front. 



Sterna serrata, of the same author (page 276), is to be referred to S.fuliginosa, 

 provided the Pacific bird be the same as the Antilles and Florida, which we 

 have no reason to doubt. I quote S. oahuensis on the authority of Mr. Cassin, 

 not having an opportunity of consulting the reference. 



Section MEGALOPTERE.E. 

 If the preceding groups which have been considered as genera and they 

 are so held by the majority of modern writers be really such, then the Anous 

 stolidus is entitled to more than generic separation from the other representa- 

 tives of the subfamily. The discrepancies in every particular of form, as well 

 as of pattern of coloration, are very marked and decided. In the following 

 diagnosis are given the characters which present themselves in the Anous stoli- 

 dus ; my want of familiarity with exotic forms preventing me from distinguish- 

 ing with accuracy the features of the section from those that are strictly cha- 

 racteristic of its typical genus. 



Genus ANOUS Leach. 



Anous, Leach, Stephens' Gen. Zool. 1826, 139. Type S. stolida, L. 

 Megalopterus, Boie, Isis, 1826, 980. Same type. 



Ch. Bill greatly exceeding the tarsus, rather longer than the middle toe and 

 claw, as long as the head, moderately robust, depressed at the base, where it is 

 very broad (as broad as high), compressed in the rest of its extent, tapering 

 to the rather acute, attenuated and somewhat decurved tip. Culmen about 

 straight for half its length, regularly decurved towards the tip, rounded, and 

 towards the base very broad and flat. Commissure about straight to near the tip, 

 where it is regularly declinato-convex. Outline of both rami and gonys concave, 

 former most so ; the prominence which separates them being illy defined and not 

 acute. Both mandibles marked with numerous more or less distinct longi- 

 tudinal strife ; their cutting edges inflected. Nostrils situated far forwards, their 

 anterior extremity nearly half way to the tip of the bill, in a deep sulcus formed 

 by the rounded culmen and a prominent broad ridge which runs from the base 

 of the upper mandible, along its cutting edge to beyond the nostrils, where 

 it gradually becomes lost. Just above the base of this ridge there is a small 

 but distinct triangular fossa, separated by an oblique stria from the large nasal 

 sulcus. Outline of feathers at base of bill very peculiar ; those on the culmen 

 have a broadly convex outline, and reach considerably beyond the lateral 

 feathers, which latter slope rapidly backwards with a slightly convex outline. 

 This is the reverse of Sterna, in which the feathers reach far forwards on the 

 sides of the upper mandible, and recede on the culmen to form an acute angle. 

 Wings only moderately long for this subfamily, not very acute, the first primary 

 scarcely surpassing the second ; all the primaries slightly falcate, very broad 

 almost to their rounded tips; unicolor. Tail exceedingly long, more than half 

 the wing; rounded, the lateral feathers regularly much graduated; all the 

 feathers broad at the base, tapering to their somewhat acuminate tips, their 

 shafts stiffened. Tarsi moderately stout, exceedingly short, much less than the 

 middle toe without the claw. Lateral toes very long, the inner especially, 

 which is but little shorter than the outer. Hind toe well developed. Interdigi- 

 tal membranes very long and full, their margins even, unincised. Size mode- 

 rate ; general form stout ; nearly unicolor ; colors very dark. 



Anous stolidus (Linn.) 

 Passer stultus, Ray, Syn. 154, fide Leach. 



1862.] 



