562 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



than length of maxilla from nostril. Wing- rather short (aliout three 

 and a half times as long as tarsus), much rounded (ninth primary 

 shorter than fourth); primaries exceeding secondaries l)v much less 

 than exposed culmen. Tail about five-sixths as long as wing, 

 rounded, the rectrices rather broad. Tarsus about one-third as long 

 as tail, its scutella distinct; middle toe svith claw shorter than tarsus; 

 lateral claws falling decidedly short of base of middle claw: hallux 

 shorter than inner toe, its claw shorter than the digit. 



Coloration. — Uniform black (adult male) or dark slaty (female) with 

 white under wing-coverts. 



Range. — Islands of Cuba and Grand Cayman, Greater Antilles. 



This genus is an exaggeration of Sporopliila., but between the most 

 similar species of the latter and the tvpe of Melopyrrha there is a con- 

 siderable gap. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF MELOPYRUHA. 



a. Smaller (exposed culmen not more than n.68, tarsus not more than 18.29; adult 

 male with violet-blue gloss, and primary coverts only partly white; adult female 



, and immature male slate-blackish. (Cuba. ) Melopyrrha nigra (p. 562) 



aa. Large (exposed culmen 12.70 or more, tarsus IS. 80 or more) ; adult male with 

 greenish blue gloss, and primary coverts wholly white; adult female and imma- 

 ture male dull slate, tinged with olive. (Grand Cayman. ) 



Melopyrrha taylori (p. 563) 



MELOPYRRHA NIGRA (Linnaeus). 

 CUBAN BITLLFINCH. 



Adult male.— \Jn\ioYm black, glossed with dull blue or violet blue; 

 under wing-coverts, axillars, greater portion of inner webs of second- 

 aries, more or less of inner webs of primaries (except the outermost), 

 alula, part of primary coverts, and edging to outer web of one or 

 more primaries white; bill black; legs and feet dark brownish; length 

 (skins), 111.76-135.89 (128.27); wing, 63.50-67.06 (65.53); tail, 54.61- 

 60.45 (56.64); exposed culmen, 10.92-11.68 (11.18); depth of bill at 

 base, 10.16-10.92 (10.41); tarsus, 17.27-18.29 (17.53); middle toe, 

 12.19-13.46 (12.70).^ 



Adult female.— 't^\m\\'M- to adult male, ])ut the black duller and less 

 glossy, sometimes inclining to dark slate-color, especially on the pos- 

 terior under parts; under tail-coverts sometimes narrowly margined 

 with white; length (skins), 111.76-127.00 (123.95); wing, 60.96-64.26 

 (62.48); tail, 52.83-55.37 (53.85); exposed culmen, 10.16-11.43(10.67); 

 depth of bill at base, 10.16-10.67 (10.41); tarsus, 17.02-18.03 (17.53); 

 middle toe. 12.19-12.95 (12.45).' 



Cuba. 

 \_Loxia] nigra Linn^ais, Syst. Nat.,ed. 10, i, 1758, 175 (based on Ruhicilla tninor 

 nigrro Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carolina, p. 68, pi. 68); ed. 12, i, 1766, 306. 



' Six specimens. ^ Seven specimens. 



