150 BULLETIN 5 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



anterior to posterior end of nostril. Wing relatively rather small, 

 moderately concave beneath, much rounded, the longest primaries 

 exceeding distal secondaries by a little less than one-fourth the length 

 of wing and but slightly, if at all, exceeding longest elongated but 

 broad and rounded proximal secondaries; third or second and third 

 primaries (from outside) longest, the first (outermost) about equal to 

 seventh or eighth ; two outermost primaries with tips subacuminate ; 

 longest feather of alula falling slightly, but decidedly, short of tips 

 of longest primary coverts. Tail between two-fifths and half as long 

 as wing, rounded, the rectrices soft and mostly concealed by coverts. 

 Tarsus as long as middle toe without claw, or a little shorter, the 

 acrotarsium with a single row of broad transverse scutella, the planta 

 tarsi with a similar single row, its posterior side broadly rounded; 

 outer toe with claw falling short of base of middle claw, the inner toe, 

 without claw, reaching to penultimate articulation of middle toe; 

 hallux, without claw, about equal to basal phalanx of outer toe ; claw 

 relatively small, moderately cui^ved, compressed, and acute. 



Plumage and coloration. — Plumage of head, neck, and underparts 

 dense, soft, and blended; that of posterior underparts longer and 

 more lax. Upperparts dark brown or dusky, more castaneous on hind 

 neck, the back, scapulars, wings, etc., usually more or less speckled or 

 transversely spotted with white; axillars and under wing coverts 

 dusky more or less barred (narrowly) with white; adults with under- 

 parts plain slaty, the posterior portions usually more or less barred 

 with white. 



Range. — Nearctic and Neotropical regions. 



2. Subgenus Limnocrex Ridgway. 



Bill much more than half as long as head, subcuneate (tapering) 

 in lateral profile, its depth at base of gonys much less than at posterior 

 end of nostril, that at base equal to more than one-third the length of 

 culmen, its width at same point equal to at least two-thirds the depth ; 

 culmen distinctly elevated and more or less arched basally, slightly 

 depressed above nostril, thence gradually decurved to tip, gonys nearly 

 as long as mandibular rami, nearly straight, slightly ascending termi- 

 nally; mandibular rami without distinct, if any, lateral groove, but 

 basal portion of tomium more or less prominent; nasal fossa very 

 distinctly defined, its upper and lower edges converging slightly 

 toward the rounded anterior end, which is about midway between 

 nearest loral feathering and tip of maxilla ; nostril narrowly elliptical, 

 wholly pervious, parallel with maxillary tomium, its anterior end 

 decidedly nearer to nearest loral feathering than to tip of maxilla; 

 anterior outline of loral feathering forming a nearly straight or 

 slightly convex line from near upper edge of nasal fossa (at base) to 

 rictus, the rather narrow base of culmen making a very small indenta- 



