261 



ERITHACUS. REDBREAST. 



Bill rather short, straight, slender, broader than high at 

 the base, compressed towards the end ; upper mandible with 

 its dorsal outline slightly convexo-declinate, the ridge rather 

 obtuse, the sides sloping at the base, convex towards the end, 

 the edges sharp, direct and overlapping, the tip narrow and 

 abruptly rounded, the notch small but distinct ; lower man- 

 dible straight, the angle of moderate length, rather narrow and 

 somewhat rounded, the dorsal outline ascending and slightly 

 convex, the back convex, the sides of the crura nearly flat and 

 sloping outwards, towards the end convex, the edges direct, the 

 gape-line nearly straight. 



The mouth narrow ; both mandibles concave within, with 

 a median prominent line ; the palate nearly flat, with two 

 longitudinal prominent lines ; the posterior aperture of the 

 nares oblongo-linear, edged behind with small papillae. Tongue 

 oblong, sagittate and papillate at the base, a little concave 

 above, its free part beneath a little convex, with a median 

 groove, its extremity rounded and lacerated. The aperture of 

 the glottis has two rows and a large pad of papillae behind. 

 The oesophagus is of moderate width, nearly uniform in dia- 

 meter ; the proventriculus oblong, with short oblong glandules. 

 The stomach of moderate size, roundish-elliptical, with strong 

 lateral muscles, a rather distinct inferior muscle, large tendons, 

 and rugous epithelium. The intestine is of moderate length 

 and width, nearly uniform in diameter ; the cceca very small, 

 cylindrical ; the rectum wider and dilated towards the end. 



Nostrils longish, linear, straight, in the lower and fore part 

 of the nasal depression, which is rather long, large, feathered 

 in the greater part of its extent, anteriorly bare, with an oblong 

 operculum. Eyes of moderate size ; the eyelids feathered, 

 their bare edges crenate. Aperture of the ear large, roundish. 



