BIRDS OP NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA 



29 



to quite three-fourths as long as tarsus, the lateral toes reaching about 

 to penultimate articulation of middle toe, the outer usually a little longer 

 than the inner; hallux about as long as combined length of first two 

 phalanges of outer toe ; claws moderately large to rather small, moderately 

 curved (that of hallux more strongly curved) compressed. 



Figure 3. — Ortalis vetula. 



Plumage and coloration. — Frontal feathers erect or suberect, more or 

 less elongated (very much so in O. wagleri), rigid and lanceolate or sub- 

 lanceolate, those of crown and occiput more or less elongated (very much 

 so in 0. zi'agleri; very slightly so in O. v. leucogastra) but broader and 

 with rounded tips ; feathers of neck variable, in O. wagleri rather long 

 and blended on hindneck, rigid and acuminate-lanceolate on foreneck, 

 malar region, and median line of throat, on O. v. leucogastra short and 

 rounded, even on foreneck ; plumage in general soft, the feathers distinctly 

 outlined, with broadly rounded tips (more blended on underparts) that 

 of anal region soft and downy ; loral and orbital regions mostly nude, the 

 sides of chin and throat also nude, separated by a narrow strip of feathers, 

 these small and bristlelike in 0. z^. leucogastra, much broader and lanceo- 

 late in 0. Zi'agleri. Coloration plain brownish above, paler beneath, the 

 abdomen, thighs, and under tail coverts sometimes whitish, sometimes 

 deep cinnamon-rufous or chestnut ; rectrices usually tipped with pale 

 brown, whitish or chestnut, sometimes mostly chestnut, and outer pri- 

 maries sometimes chestnut. 



Range. — Southern Texas (Rio Grande Valley) to Paraguay, Argentina, 

 and Peru. (About 13 species and 30 subspecies.) 



