422 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — AXSERES. 



Genus OLOR, Wagler. 



Olor, Wagl. Isis, 1832, 1234 (type, Anas cygnus, Linn.). 



Char.* Neck very lonij (longer than the body). l)ill longer than the lieacl (commissure longer 

 than the tarsus), widening slightly to the end, the edges straight ; Ixisal portion of the bill covered 

 by a soft skin extending over the lores to the eye, the upper outline running nearly straight back 

 from the forehea<l to the upper eyelid, the lower running from the eye obliquely downward, in a 

 nearly straight line, to the rictus. Nostrils situated a little posterior to the middle of the maxilla, 



:1n 



V 







0. buccinator. 



and quite near the culmen ; no trace of a knoli or caruntde at base of the bill. Lower portion of 

 the tibia bare ; tarsus much shorter than the middle toe (liut little longer than the inner), much 

 compressed, covered with hexagonal scales which become smaller on the sides and behind. Hind 

 toe small, much elevated, the lobe narrow. Tail very short, rounded, or graduated, of 20 to 24 

 feathers. Wings rounded, the second and third quills longest ; primaries scarcely reaching beyond 

 the ends of the secondaries. Color entirely white, the sexes alike ; young pale grayish. 



"Synopsis of the Species. 



a^. The distance from the anterior angle of the eye to the hind border of the nostrils much longer 

 than the distance from the latter to the tip of the bill. 

 b^. The yellow color at the base of the bill extending beyond the nostrils. 



* " DiAGN. Predominant color of the adults white ; the young with downy or feathered lores, the down 

 on the sides of the bill terminating far hack of the nostrils, and forming very distinct loral antiaj ; tertiaries 

 and scapulars normal, not crisp ; tail longer than tlie middle toe with claw, rounded : inner webs of outer 

 three primaries, and outer webs of the second, third, and fourth, sinuated ; webs of the feet not scalloped " 

 (Stejxegku, torn. cit. pp. 197, 198). 



