BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA 369 



anterior angle of eye, its depth at ba,se of culmen nearly if not quite 

 equal to length (chord) of the latter and about one-third greater than 

 its width at same point; culmen slightly arched basally, strongly and 

 rather abruptly decurved, the maxillary ungids rather long and acute, 

 at nearly a right angle with axis of maxilla; gonys about half as long 

 as culmen, slightly but distinctly convex, ascending terminally; 

 maxillary tomium strongly sinuated, concave immediately behind the 

 unguis, then strongly convex, producing a rather prominent lobe; 

 rictus about on line (vertically) with anterior angle of eye; cere long, 

 its length on top equal to a little more than half the length (chord) of 

 culmen, rather broad on top, where very slightly ascending basally, 

 its anterior margin a nearly straight, almost vertical line, slightly 

 curvnig outward (distally) in front of nostril; nostril rather large, 

 obliquely broadly oval, above middle of cere. Wing rather long, the 

 longest primary exceeding distal secondary by about one-third the 

 length of wing; fourth or fourth and fifth primaries longest, the second 

 shorter than sixth, the first about equal to ninth; four outer primaries 

 with inner webs emargiuated, the fifth distmctly sinuated; second to 

 sLxth with outer v>'^ebs sinuated. Tail between three-fifths and two- 

 thirds as long as wmg, its tip distinctly but not extensively rounded. 

 Tarsus about one-fourth as long as wing, a little less than two-fifths as 

 long as tail, feathered above hi front for about two-fifths its length, the 

 acrotarsium and planta tarsi each with a single continuous series of 

 large transverse scutella; middle toe much more than half as long as 

 tarsus; outer toe extending nearly to middle of third phalanx of middle 

 toe, the inner extending to a little beyond base of same phalanx; 

 hallux nearly if not quite as long as inner toe, its claw about as long as 

 the digit; claws moderate in size and curvature, rather thick, not very 

 acute, broadly grooved beneath, distinctly graduated in size, that of 

 hallux more than twice as long as that of outer toe; web between basal 

 phalanges of outer and middle claws well developed (rather large). 



Plumage and coloration. — Plumage in general rather soft, with 

 feathers distinctly outlined, those of head (especially on pileum) sub- 

 lanceolate; feathers on outer side of thighs much larger than on inner 

 side, but scarcely plumelike; entire loral region nude, with scattered 

 fine bristles, those on upper anterior portion longer and recurved. 

 Adults plain dark brown with lesser and under v/ing coverts and thighs 

 deep cinnamon-rufous, the tail coverts and tip and base of tail white. 

 Young dusky brown above varied with rusty or buffy, beneath buffy 

 (more or less deep) with longitudinal markings of dusky or blackish; 

 tail grayish brown crossed by numerous narrow bands of dusky. 



Range. — Tropical and subtropical continental America, from south- 

 ern border of United States to Argentina and Chile. (Monotypic.) 



