LEADEN-GREY-HOODED MEW. 587 



with numerous anterior scutella ; the interdigital memhranes 

 emarginate. The claws are small, slightly arched, compressed, 

 pointed, the inner edge of that of the third toe considerably 

 expanded. 



The plumage is full, soft, and blended, unless on the back 

 and wings, where the feathers are somewhat firm. The 

 wings are very long and pointed, and extend two inches 

 beyond the tail, which is even. The first quill is longest, 

 the second slightly shorter, the rest rapidly diminishing ; the 

 outer secondaries incurvate and obliquely rounded. 



The bill, inside of the mouth, edges of the eyelids, and 

 the feet, are of a deep carmine tint, the claws brownish- 

 black ; the iris bluish-black. The head, neck, lower parts, 

 and tail Avhite ; the head faintly mottled with brownish- 

 grey ; a dusky crescent before the eye, and a patch over the 

 ear. The back and wings are light bluish- grey ; the margin 

 of the wings, and a large terminal portion of the secondaries 

 white. The first primary is black, with the basal joart of 

 the inner web tinged with grey ; the second and third also 

 black, with the grey more extended ; the fourth having 

 two-thirds occupied by it ; the fifth with a large sub ter- 

 minal black band, and the sixth with a slight mark ; the 

 tips of all white, except the outermost ; the other primaries 

 like the back, as are the secondaries, of which the tips are 

 white. 



Length to end of tail 18 inches ; extent of wings 40 ; 

 wing from flexure IS^^ ; tail 5 ; bill along the ridge l-fa^ 

 along the edge of lower mandible 2^ ; tarsus l]-^ ; hind 

 toe -j^j, its claw -jL- ; second toe 1, its claw ^ ; third toe 1-j^, 

 its claw -j^ ; fourth toe l-j3j, its claw -^. 



Female in Winter. — The female resembles the male in 

 colour, but is considerably smaller. 



Length 16|^ inches ; wing from flexure 12| ; tail 5 ; bill 

 along the ridge l-^ ; tarsus l\^ ; third toe and claw 1-f^. 



Variations. — As in other species of this and the preceding 

 genus, the dark markings on the wings vary ; but I have 

 never seen a bird with all the primaries black and destitute 



