416 REVIEW OF AMERICAN BIRDS. [PART I. 



at lower end. Claws short, much curved. Inner toe cleft nearly to base ; 

 basal joint of outer adherent. Outer toe a little longer than inner, reaching 

 a little beyond base of middle claw. 



This genus differs from llyiadestes in scutellate tarsi, smaller feet, 

 more curved claws, crest, tail, etc. Its relatiotiships to Ftilogonys 

 are closer, but the crest is narrow and pointed ; the wing less gradu- 

 ated ; the first primary much larger ; the tail more rounded ; the 

 feathers much broader. The bill is much narrower and weaker. 

 The feet are very similar ; the toes rather more cleft, though less 

 than in Myiadestes. 



Pliaenopepla niteiis. 



PtiUogonys nitens, Sw. An. in Menag. 1838, 285, — Bon. Consp. 1850, 

 335.— Heermann, Jour. A, N. Sc. Phila. II, 1853, 263.— Cassin, 

 111. Birds Texas, etc. 1854, 169, pi. xxix. — Cicldopsis nitens, Baiep, 

 Birds N. Am. 1858, 320, 925.—Phainopepla nitens, Sclater, P. Z. S. 

 1858, 543; 1864, 173 (City of Mexico). 



"Lepturus galeaius, Ltss." 



Hab. Mountainous portions of western and middle provinces of United 

 States, and south to Orizaba ; Cape St. Lucas. 



(No. 8,275, %.') Tail broad, almost fan-shaped; graduated slightly; not 

 at all emarginate, and longer than wing. First quill broad, slightly falcate, 

 scarcely attenuated; more than half the 2d, which about equals the 10th; 

 6tli longest ; 3d equal to 7th. Feathers on nape rather full, with a lengthened, 

 pointed, narrow occipital crest. 



Male (No. 8,275) entirely glossy greenish-black ; the inner webs of all the 

 primary quills with a large, lengthened patch of white, which does not reach 

 the inner margin ; their outer webs very narrowly edged with ashy, as are also 

 lateral tail feathers externally. 



Female (No. 8,274) brownish-ash, paler below ; the white of inner webs 

 of quills obsolete ; the greater coverts and quills edged externally with 

 whitish, the anal and crissal feathers edged and tipped with the same ; the 

 outer tail feather with narrow edge of white externally towards end. 



Immature birds show every gradation of color between the two extremes 

 described above. 



(No. 8,275, % .) Total length, 7.60 ; wing, 3.80 ; tail, 4.35 ; difference of 10th 

 and longest primary, .54; exposed portion of 1st primary, 1.20, of 2d, 2.20, of 

 longest (6th) (measured from exposed base of 1st primary), 2.80; length of 

 bill from forehead, .46, from nostril, .31, along gape, .66 ; tarsus, .70 ; middle 

 toe and claw, .65,^aw alone, .20 ; hind toe and claw, .44, claw alone, .20. 



