581 



NUCIFRAGA. NUTCRACKER. 



Bill rather long, straight, moderately strong, tapering, of 

 nearly equal height and breadth at the base, slightly com- 

 pressed, but with the extreme tip depressed. Upper mandible 

 having the dorsal outline almost straight, being very slightly 

 convex towards the end, the ridge rather narrow but obtuse, the 

 sides very convex, the edges sharp, direct, with a very obscure 

 sinus close to the depressed blunt tip. Lower mandible with the 

 angle very short, broad and rounded, the dorsal outline ascend- 

 ing and slightly convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip 

 rather blunt and a little depressed. The gape-line is nearly 

 straight, being very slightly arched. 



Nostrils rather small, round, in the fore part of the very 

 short, broad, nasal groove, and concealed by the narrow reversed 

 feathers, which cover about a sixth of the bill. Eyelids feather- 

 ed, having a narrow crenate bare margin. Aperture of the ear 

 roundish, of moderate size. 



,((i)u Head rather large, oblong, nearly flat 

 above ; neck short ; body ovate, compact. 

 Legs of moderate length and strength ; 

 tarsi moderate, covered anteriorly with 

 ten scutella, posteriorly with two plates, 

 meeting behind with a sharp edge, and 

 several small transverse scales below. 

 Toes of moderate size ; the first large, 

 broad at the base, rather longer than the 

 second and fourth, which are equal, the 

 third considerably longer ; the fore toes spread very little, the 

 third and fourth united as far as the second joint ; all covered 



