BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA 



127 



concave beneath, rather pointed, the second, or second and third 

 primaries (from outside) longest, the outermost equal to or longer 

 than sixth, the longest primaries exceeding distal secondaries by a 

 little more than one-third the length of wing, and projecting slightly 

 beyond tips of elongated proximal secondaries; alula extending not 

 more than half way to tips of longest primary coverts. Tail a little 

 more than one-third as long as wing, strongly rounded or slightly 

 graduated, the rectrices narrow and tapering distally, the longer 

 ones extending decidedly beyond coverts. Tarsus nearly one-third 

 as long as wing, much less than twice as long as culmen, slightly 

 longer than middle toe with claw, the acrotarsium with a single con- 

 tinuous row of broad transverse scutella, the planta tarsi with a single 

 continuous row of similar but narrower scutella; outer toe, with 



Figure 8. — Crex crex. Natural size. 



claw, falling short of base of middle claw, the inner toe still shorter, 

 the terminal articulation on line with penultimate articulation of 

 middle toe; hallux small, its length, without claw, equal to about 

 two-thirds the length of basal phalanx of inner toe; claws short, 

 slightly curved, rather blunt. 



Plumage and coloration. — Plumage rather compact and firm, the 

 contour feathers rather distinctly outlined, except on abdomen ; those 

 of head short and more blended (except on pileum), those of the 

 laterofrontal region semierect and bristly, those of lores very short 

 and rather sparse; remiges firm. Upper parts brown and grayish, 

 broadly striped with dark brown, the wings for the most part plain 

 and rufescent; inner parts light grayish anteriorly, faintly barred 

 on chest, etc., whitish posteriorly, distinctly barred with brown; 

 axillars and under wing-coverts plain rufescent. 



Range. — Palearctic region, southward to Africa in winter; acci- 

 dental in northeastern portion of Nearctic region. (Monotypic.) 



