.332 rHALACROCOKACID^. 



Type. 

 Compsohalieus, Ridyway, in Water-B. N. Amer. 



ii. p. 145 (1884) [with 14 tail-featliers !!] P. penicillatus. 



Gripeus, Heine, Nomencl. Mus. Hein. p. 352 (1890) P. graculus. 

 Enygrottreres, Heine, Nomencl. Mus. Hein. p. 353 



(1890) P- pimctatus. 



Bill long, or moderatelj' long, sub-cyliudrical, strongly hooked at 

 the extremity ; a long narrow groove on each side, dividing at the 

 nail or dertrum ; cutting-edges of mandibles entire. Nostrils rudi- 

 mentary. A gular pouch, naked anteriorly ; neck long and sinuous. 

 Wings moderately long and pointed ; quills stiff and strong, the 

 third generally slightly longer than the first and second. Tail 

 rounded or cuneate, composed of twelve or fourteen stiff feathers. 

 Tarsus short and compressed ; outer toe longest ; claws curved, 

 that of middle toe pectinate. 



Range. Almost world-wide, but absent from the Central Pacific. 



Key to the Species, 

 I. Adult in Breeding-plumage. 



I. Culmen exceeding 1'5 inch in length from 

 feathers on forehead to tip. 

 A. Tail composed of 14 feathers. 



a. Breast and belly blaclc glossed with dull 

 green or blue ; legs blackish. 

 a'. Size larger : wing more than 12 inches 

 long. 

 a". Fore-neck and chest black with 

 bluish or greenish gloss ; a large 

 white patch on each flank. 

 a^. Feathers bordering the naked 

 throat pure white ; wing-coverts 

 and scapidars bronze-brown mar- 

 gined with dark steel-blue ; under- 

 parts with a dark bluish-green 



gloss carbo, p. 340. 



6^. Feathers bordering the naked 

 throat white mottled with dark 

 greenish black ; wing-coverts and 

 scapulars greenish bronze mar- 

 gined with dark green; uuder- 



parts with an oil-green gloss. . . . Jilamentosus, p. 350. 

 b". Fore-neck and chest white ; wing- 

 coverts and scapulars bronze-brown 

 margined with greenish black ; 

 flanks with scattered white plumes, lucidus, p. 351. 

 b' . Size smaller : wing less than lO'S 

 inches ; underparts black glossed 

 with dark blue ; no white flank- 

 patch capensis, p. 352. 



l>. Breast and belly smoky grey ; an elongate 

 white patch on each side of the neck ; 

 legs coml-red (orange in dry skin) .... gaimardi, p. 353. 



