454 BULLETIN 5 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Bill moderate in size, its length (in direct line) from base of cere 

 less than length of middle toe without claw, its depth at anterior 

 edge of culmen equal to nearly three-fourths the chord of culmen, 

 the latter much less than length (chord) of inner claw; culmen strongly 

 and regularly curved from base, somewhat inclined backward at tip 

 of the well-developed maxillary unguis; gonys less than half as long 

 as culmen, slightly but distinctly convex, slightly ascending terminally; 

 maxillary tomium slightly convex or faintly lobed in middle portion; 

 anterior margin of cere faintly convex in front of nostril, strongly 

 receding below; nostril narrowly oval, vertical, not in contact with 

 anterior edge of cere, situated somewhat above middle of distance 

 between tomium and top of cere, the integument of the latter hard or 

 firm. Wing long and pointed, the longest primary exceeding distal 

 secondary by more than one-third (about three-eighths) the length 

 of wing; third to fifth (usually fourth and fifth) primaries longest, 

 the third usually slightly shorter than fourth, the latter longer than 

 SLxth, the second shorter than sixth, the first shorter than seventh 

 but longer than eighth; five outer prim.aries with inner webs very 

 deeply and abruptly emarginated, the sixth (sometimes seventh also) 

 sinuated, the outer webs of second to sixth or seventh (inclusive) 

 sinuated. Tail about more than half (about four-sevenths) as long 

 as wing, slightly, but distinctly rounded, the rectrices (12) moderately 

 broad and firm. Tarsus between one-sLxth and one-seventh as long 

 as wing, densely feathered all around for entire length; middle toe 

 about two-thirds as long as tarsus, the lateral toes much shorter, the 

 outer slightly longer than the inner, reaching to about third articula- 

 tion of middle toe; hallux slightly shorter than inner toe; claws 

 relatively large, strongly curved, and acute, conspicuously graduated 

 in size, that of hallux (largest) decidedly to much longer than its 

 digit, that of inner toe about half as long, that of outer toe much 

 less than half as long; upper surface of toes with large transverse 

 scutella on terminal and part of subterminal phalanges, elsewhere 

 covered with small roundish scales; web between basal phalanges of 

 outer and middle toes well developed. 



Plumage and coloration. — Plumage in general full and compact, the 

 remiges and rectrices firm and rigid, the longer primaries subacumi- 

 nate; feathers of occiput, nape, and hindneck lanceolate, acuminate, 

 somewhat elongated, those of throat and foreneck broad and blended ; 

 feathers of thighs well developed, rather loose webbed, the longest 

 reaching to or beyond base of toes, forming conspicuous "pantalettes." 

 Adults mostly plain dark brown, the lanceolate feathers of hindneck 

 and feathers of tarsi of a much paler, more tawmy, hue, the primaries 

 and rectrices blackish, the latter clouded or irregularly banded with 

 grayish. Young similar, but with basal half or more of tail white, 



