BIEDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMEEICA. 141 



BUI very large, excessively compressed, its depth at base equal to 

 or slightly excecdmg length of culmcn and equal to nearly twice its 

 transverse width; culmen longer than middle toe with claw, regularly 

 and strongly decurved from base, rather broadly rounded ; maxillary 

 unguis broad (vertically) and compressed (its transverse diameter at 

 base equal to about two-thirds its lateral width at same point), 

 obtuse, the palatal surface with corrugations indistinct or obsolete; 

 maxillary tomium slightly lobed behind the distinct subterminal 

 notch; depth of mandible at base decidedly less than length of 

 gonys, the latter moderately convex, grooved medially as far as 

 the base of the flattened, truncate, and considerably produced chisel- 

 like tip of mandible; mandibular tomium faintly convex posteriorly, 

 very deeply concave anteriorly. Wing large and pointed, the longest 

 primaries exceeding distal secondaries by nearly half the length of 

 wing; ninth primary longest, the eighth shghtly shorter, the tenth 

 (outermost) shghtly longer than seventh. Tail a Httle less than two- 

 thirds as long as v*-ing, graduated for about one-third its length, the 

 rectrices tapering terminally, with tips of lateral ones broadly rounded, 

 those of middle pair more pointed. Tarsus about as long as inner 

 anterior toe v.'ithout claw. 



Plumage and coloration. — Head completely feathered except a rather 

 small circumorbital area; cere densely and completely covered with 

 short, stiff, erect feathers, concealing nostrils; plumage in general 

 hard or harsh. General color uniform green, the forehead, lores, 

 superciliary region, anterior margin of wing, and thighs red, greater 

 under wing-coverts yellow, and under surface of remiges and rectrices 

 blackish. 



Range. — Highlands (conifer zone) of northern and middle Mexico 

 and adjacent border of United States. (Monotypic.) 



RHYNCHOPSITTA PACHYRHYNCHA ^Swainson). 



THICK-BILLED PARROT. 



Adults (sexes alike). — Forehead, anterior part of crown, super- 

 ciliary region, and anterior lesser wmg-coverts, deep poppy red or 

 dull carmine; lower portion of thighs light poppy red; a spot of 

 dark reddish broAvn or blackish brown immediately in front of bare 

 orbital space, this dark color extending, narrowly, along the upper 

 margin of the naked orbital space; under primary coverts clear 

 chrome yellow, forming a conspicuous patch on under side of whig; 

 under surface of remiges and rectrices plain brownish slate color, 

 tinged with oUve in certain lights; rest of plumage yellowish parrot 

 green or bright oil green, brighter (between paris green and apple 

 green) on sides of head, slightly lighter (sometimes duller) on under 

 parts, the carpo-metacarpal region sometimes (m older individuals ?) 



