GREY PHALAROPE. 283 



rather longer than the head, almost straight, being very 

 slightly recurved, sub-cylindrical, a little larger at the base, 

 obtuse ; the upper mandible dilated near the end, and having 

 its tip slightly decimate, while that of the lower is obtusely 

 pointed ; both mandibles laterally grooved, the upper having 

 its ridge flattened. The nostrils are basal, lateral, oblong, 

 small, with a rather prominent margin. The eyes are rather 

 small, with both eyelids feathered. The feet are rather 

 short and slender ; the tibia bare below ; the tarsus com- 

 pressed, having a projecting margin before and another 

 behind, both scutellate. The hind toe is very small, with a 

 membranous margin ; the fore toes are joined at the base by 

 membranes, and margined on each side with rounded lobes, 

 each of which corresponds to an articulation. The claws are 

 small, arched, compressed ; that of the second toe is merely 

 a minute blunt knob. 



The plumage is close and blended on the head, neck, and 

 especially the lower parts. On the back the feathers are 

 distinct, but weak. The wings are long, narrow, and 

 pointed, with twenty-five quills ; the second primary longest, 

 but the first scarcely shorter ; the secondaries are oblique, 

 excepting the inner, which are very long and pointed. The 

 tail is small, much rounded, of twelve delicate, acute 

 feathers. 



The bill is black ; the iris dusky ; the feet pale brown, 

 the lobes of the membranes grey, dark toward the end ; the 

 claws black. The forehead, sides of the head, neck, and 

 lower parts are pure white. The occiput and a broad line 

 down the back of the neck are greyish-black, and there are 

 some dusky spots beneath the eye. The general colour of 

 the back is a fine pale purplish-blue; the wing-coverts 

 blackish, as are the primary quills, and some of the very 

 elongated and pointed inner secondaries. The shafts of the 

 quills, and the margins and tips of the secondary coverts, 

 and the tips of the primary coverts, are white. The middle 

 tail-feathers are deep brown, margined with white, the lateral 

 shaded into ash-grey. 



Length to end of tail 85- inches ; extent of wings 15f ; 

 bill along the ridge \%, along the edge of lower mandible 1 j 



