BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA 225 



gonys relatively short, much less than half as long as culmen, only 

 two-thirds as long as distance across mandibular rami at base of 

 gnathotheca, faintly ridged medially, faintly convex, ascending ter- 

 minally, slightly prominent basally; maxillary tomium slightly convex 

 posterior to the anterior concavity; anterior margin of cere strongly 

 convex in front of nostril, strongly receding and nearly straight 

 below; nostril relatively rather large, longitudinally ovate, rather 

 nearer to upper than to lower margin of cere. Wing long and pointed, 

 the longest primary exceeding distal secondary by two-fifths the 

 length of wing; third primary longest, the first shorter than the 

 seventh; inner webs of outer four primaries abruptly emarginated. 

 Tail slightly less than half as long as wing, its tip slightly but distinctly 

 rounded. Tarsus slightly less than one-fifth as long as wing, much 

 less than one-third as long as tail, densely feathered (except on planta 

 tarsi) for five-sixths its length, the lower portion of acrotarsium with 

 small transversely oval scutella, a few of them considerably larger 

 than the rest, the planta tarsi with broad transverse scutella on 

 lower half, smaller, quadrate ones, in two or three series, on upper 

 half; middle toe two-fifths as long as tarsus; outer toe decidedly 

 longer than inner toe, the latter extending to or beyond middle of 

 third phalanx of middle toe; hallux decidedly shorter than inner toe, 

 its claw much longer than the digit; claws moderate in size and 

 curvature, moderately acute, graduated in size, that of outer toe 

 about three-fifths as long as that of hallux. 



Plumage and coloration. — Plumage moderately full and compact, 

 the feathers distinctly outlined; loral region rather densely covered 

 with small antrorse feathers with bristlelike tips, the latter recurved 

 terminally, those on lower portion of lores straight and directed down- 

 ward; tips of outer and longer primaries subacuminate; ^^ plumage of 

 thighs well developed but tips of the longer feathers falling far short 

 of base of toes; tarsi for greater part densely feathered, but lower 

 portion (about one-sixth), all round, and entire planta tarsi nude and 

 scutellate. Adults with upperparts mLxed grayish brown and cinna- 

 mon-rufous, the outer webs of primaries silvery gray, the upper tail 

 coverts and tail white, the former with irregular bars of dusky, the 

 latter shaded, longitudinally, with cimiamon-rufous barred with dusky. 

 Young mostly grayish brown above, the tail white basally and on 

 inner webs, grayish brown termmally, usually with several, more or 

 less distinct, dusky narrow bands; beneath, includmg thighs, mostly 

 white. 



Range. — Western North America, from Mexico to British Colum- 

 bia, etc. (Monotypic.) 



" According to Nitzsch, the remiges are 25 (in Butaetes, 24). 



