188 



BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



tail (not including elongated middle rectrices) much less than half as 

 long as wing, strongly graduated, the middle pair of rectrices projecting 

 much beyond the next, narrow, with parallel edges and subtruncate tips. 

 Bill relatively small (from frontal antiae about one-fourth as long 

 as rest of head), its depth at frontal antiae about equal to or slightly 

 exceeding its width at same point; culmen rounded (not ridged) ; maxil- 

 lary tomium distinctly and regularly concave or arched ; rhamphotheca 

 wholly smooth. Wing moderate, strongly concave beneath, the longest 

 primaries exceeding longest secondaries by about one-fourth the length 

 of wing; third and fourth primaries longest, the first (outermost) inter- 

 mediate between sixth and seventh; outer primaries distinctly bowed or 

 incurved, the inner web of four or five outer ones distinctly emarginate. 

 Tail much less than half as long as wing (not including elongated middle 



Figure 11. — Pcdioccctes phasianelhis. 



rectrices), strongly graduated almost wholly concealed by coverts, the 

 middle pair of rectrices projecting much beyond the next pair, rather 

 narrow, with parallel edges and subtruncate tips; rectrices (18) rather 

 soft. Tarsus between one-fourth and one-fifth as long as wing, com- 

 pletely clothed with long, soft, hair-like feathers, these, in winter plumage, 

 concealing basal half or more of toes ; middle toe slightly shorter than 

 tarsus^- ; lateral toes extending to or a little beyond penultimate articulation 

 of middle toe ; hallux about as long as second phalanx of middle toe ; 

 upper side of toes with a continuous series of transverse scutella, with 



^' Owing to the extensive and dense feathering, it is very difficult to make accurate 

 measurements of length of tarsus and middle toe. 



