136 OIDEMIA FUSCA, 



teen slightly arched, stiffish, narrow, tapering, obtusely- 

 pointed feathers, of which the lateral are an inch and a half 

 shorter than those in the middle. 



The upper basal prominence of the bill, the nostrils, part 

 of the lateral prominences, the margins of the upper mandible, 

 and a streak on each side of the unguis black ; the sides rich 

 orange, the unguis and part of the ridge reddish flesh-colour ; 

 the basal half of the lower mandible black, the rest lake-red. 

 The iris is greyish-white, with an external dusky ring. The 

 inner side of the tarsus, of the hind toe and its web, as well 

 as of the other toes, with the whole loose web of the inner 

 orpiment orange ; the outer side of the tarsus, hind toe and 

 its web, as well as of the other toes, bluish-carmine or lake ; 

 the sole of the foot, and the webs above broAvnish-black ; 

 the claws black. The general colour of the plumage is 

 brownish-black ; the head and neck with violet reflections, 

 the back with green and blue. A narrow oblong spot of 

 white extends from the anterior angle of the eye to a quarter 

 of an inch behind it. On the wing is a large patch of white, 

 the greater part of the outer eleven secondaries, and the tips 

 of their coverts being of that colour. 



Length to end of tail 21 inches ; extent of wings 37 ; 

 wing from flexure 11|^ ; tail of; bill along the ridge Ij-j ; 

 along the edge of lower mandible 2-j% ; its greatest breadth 

 l^ ; tarsus l^^- ; hind toe -^, its claw -^ ; second toe 9,-^, 

 its claw -j^ ; third toe 2\^, its claw -f^ ; fourth toe ^W, its 

 claw -j^. 



Female in Winter. — The female has the basal promi- 

 nence of the bill much less elevated, and the plumage less 

 glossy. The bill is entirely of a dusky colour ; but the feet 

 are coloured as in the male, though the tints are duller. The 

 general colour of the plumage is brownish-black, the lower 

 parts lighter. Near the base of the upper mandible on each 

 side is a greyish-white spot, and behind the eye another. 

 Outer secondaries white as in the male. 



Length to end of tail 21 inches ; extent of wings 36 ; 

 wing from flexure 11 ; tail Z^ ; tarsus l{% ; middle toe 2\%, 

 its claw -j^ ; bill along the ridge 1 j-f . 



