46 



REVIEW OP AMERICAN BIRDS. 



[part I. 



on Birds as differing from the others in the collection, still remains 

 quite unique in reference to some characters. 



(4,023.; 10.00. (7,200.) 11.30. (4,022.) 10.00. Eyes yellow. (31,819.) 11.00. Iris orange. 



Marpoi'IayncSmis cmereus. 



HarporhijncliHS cinerciis, Xantus, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1859, 298. — Baird, ib. 

 303.— ScLATEK, Catal. 1861, 8, no. 49. 



12,960. Bill as long as the head ; all the lateral outlines gently decurved from 

 the base. Bristles not very conspicuous, but reaching to the nostrils. Wings 

 considerably shorter than the tail, much rounded. First primary broad, 

 nearly halt' the length of the 2d ; the 3d to the 7th quills nearly equal, their 

 tips forming the outline- of a gentle curve ; the 2d quill shorter than the 9th. 

 Tail considerably graduated, the lateral feathers more than an inch the 

 shorter. Legs stout ; tarsi longer than middle toe, distinctly scutellate, with 

 seven scales. 



Above ashy brown, with perhaps a tinge of rusty on the rump ; beneath 

 fulvous white, more fulvous on the flanks, inside of wing, and crissum. Be- 

 neath, excej)t chin, throat, and from middle of abdomen to crissum, with well 

 defined V-shaped spots of dark brown at the ends of the feathers, largest 

 across the breast. Loral region hoary. Wings with two narrow whitish 

 bands across the tips of greater and middle coverts ; the quills edged ex- 

 ternally with paler. Outer three tail feathers with a rather obsolete white 

 patch in the end of inner web, and across the tips of the outer. 



Spring specimens are of rather purer white beneath, with the spots more 

 distinct than as described. 



Length of 12,960 (skin), 10.00 ; wing, 4.10 ; tail, 4.65 ; 1st primary, l.CO ; 

 2d, 2.50; bill from gape, 1.40, from above, 1.15, from nostril, .90; tarsus, 

 1.26 ; middle toe and claw, 1.12; claw alone, .30. 



This species is curiously similar in coloration to Oreoscoptes mon- 

 tamts, from which its much larger size, much longer and decurved 

 bill, and the graduated tail, of course readily distinguish it. It 

 agrees in some respects with H. ritfus and longirostris, but it is 

 smaller, the bill longer and more curved ; the upper parts are 

 ashy olivaceous brown instead of rufous, etc. 



