Sir W. Jardine on the Habits of Crotophaga. 169 



is of a grayish-black, at the base of the maxilla inclining to 

 bluish-black; it varies in the elevation or development as 

 seen in the cut. No. 1, drawn from a bird fully 15 inches in 

 length, being much arched. No. 2, considerably less deve- 

 loped, belonging to a smaller specimen (13|^ inches) either in 

 the moult or scarcely having attained full plumage. The man- 

 dible in both is wrinkled transversely downwards. The eye 

 is protected by strong superciliary bristles, but the space be- 

 tween it and the rictus is nearly bare of feathers, a few scat- 

 tered bristly plumes only covering it. The ridge of the bill 

 enters among the plumes of the forehead, which run down in 

 a narrow point on each side towards the nostrils, and at this 

 part and above the eyes they show strong rather elongated 

 shafts, somewhat similar to what we perceive in some of the 

 Rallidae, and are without doubt intended to protect the face 

 while they seek for their prey among the thick herbage. This 

 structure in a less degree extends also over the head, cheeks, 

 throat and sides of the neck, the feathers being there rigid and 

 somewhat lanceolate in form. The ground tint of the plumage 

 of the body is a dull black, each feather being margined with 

 a glossy band of a yellowish metallic lustre on the head and 

 neck, on the back and lower parts of steel-blue and violet. 

 These bands, on the vent, flanks, and under tail-covers are 

 wanting. The wings and tail are of a shade of black deeper 

 than that of the body, and are richly tinted with violet re- 

 flexions ; the secondaries, greater covers, and tail in some lights 

 showing darker narrow transverse bars ; the tail is rounded 

 and very ample ; the feathers broadening towards the tips, and 

 in its whole appearance reminding us of that member in seve- 

 ral of the Rasorial genera ; in all our specimens it consisted 

 only of eight feathers ; the legs and feet are black, the tarsus 

 and middle toe very nearly of equal length, the claws slightly 

 hooked. The exterior toe is subversatile, but the structure of 

 the foot is in other respects ambulatorial. Mr. Kirk states 

 that the eyes are '^ very dark, apparently blue, except in sun- 

 light, when they assume a very dark hazel-like colour.^^ 



When the Crotophaga is skinned the first impression is that 

 of a general weakness of the muscular parts, and it is so with 



