78 PICUS MARTIUS. 



straight, the ridge sharp, the slope concave to the lateral ridges, 

 which are parallel to the dorsal ridge, and nearer it than the 

 edges, until towards the end, the sides externally of these ridges 

 sloping and convex, the edges overlapping and strong, at the 

 end worn flat, the tip truncate ; the lower mandible with the 

 angle rather long and narrow, the ridge linear, the sides at first 

 gently sloping, then convex, at the base erect and somewhat 

 concave, the edges broad and blunt, the tip truncate. 



The eyes are of moderate size, the diameter of their aper- 

 ture three-twelfths and a half ; the nostrils very small, linear- 

 elliptical, two-twelfths long, basal, concealed by bristly feathers. 

 Feet short ; tarsus very short, feathered more than half way 

 down, and having six anterior scutella. The first toe very 

 small, with four scutella, and several series of small scales ; 

 the second toe short, with nine scutella ; the third much longer, 

 with sixteen scutella ; the fourth a little shorter than the third, 

 and with twelve scutella. Claws very large, high, compressed, 

 laterally grooved, curved, acute ; that of the third toe largest, 

 of the fourth next, of the first smallest. 



The plumage is soft, moderately glossy, rather blended ; the 

 feathers oblong and rounded. The short nasal membrane is 

 covered w^th stiff reversed bristle-feathers. The wings are 

 very long and rounded ; the quills nineteen ; the primaries 

 straight, tapering, stiff; the first less than a third of the length 

 of the fifth, and j^ointed ; the second an inch and a half shorter 

 than the third, which is five-twelfths of an inch shorter than 

 the fourth ; the fifth one-twelfth longer than the latter, and 

 the sixth about as much longer than the fifth ; the secondaries 

 are broad, rounded, and very long. The tail is rather long, of 

 ten stiff decurved feathers, having the groove of their shaft very 

 deep and wide, and their tip emarginate, the terminal filaments 

 extending beyond the end of the shaft. Besides these, there 

 is on each side an incumbent small, soft, rounded feather. 



The bill is bluish-white, with the tip bluish-black. The 

 eyes are said to be yellowish-white. The feet and claws black. 

 The general colour of the plumage is brownish-black, on the 

 sides of the head glossed with blue ; the whole upper part of 

 the head bright crimson. 



