440 Mr. G. R. Gray on the Bills 



also differs by the uarrowness of the posterior margin of the 

 lower mandible. 



Figure 4 shows the more slender form of the bill of the Chi- 

 lian species. The basal portion of the culmen is shorter than 

 the apical part from where it bends to the tip ; the posterior 

 margin of the lower mandible is narrowed and straight, and the 

 apex of the arch of the basal portion of the lower surface is but 

 slightly angulated. These characters and the quantity of black, 

 which extends from the bend to the tip, at once distinguish this 

 species from the preceding ones. 



The following species differ from the former by the mentum 

 being feathered. 



The first two (Figures 3 and 8) may be distinguished from the 

 other two by the peculiarity of the lateral margins of the lower 

 mandible. It is much arched and ridged, with the inner side 

 along the ridge dcflcxed inwards and wider than the width of 

 the upper mandible, so that when closed the latter is partly con- 

 cealed by the parallel ridge, this concealment being assisted by 

 the flatness of its upper surface ; the base of the culmen to the 

 bend is shorter than from the latter to the tip ; and the nostrils 

 also vary from those of the former division, the nasal groove 

 being short and broad. 



Figure 3 differs from Figure 8 by the posterior margin of the 

 lower mandible being very narrow and then slightly curved to 

 the lower surface, tlius giving an appearance of angulation. 

 Figure 8 has, on the other hand, the posterior margin of the 

 lower mandible obliquely straight and broad to the surface be- 

 neath ; the lateral edge of the lower mandible has a prominent 

 longitudinal channel on the basal half, from which spring several 

 less prominent ramifications that proceed upwards to the lateral 

 margin. 



These two species may, from their singular bills, be arranged 

 as a separate subgenus under the name of Phoeniconaias. 



Figure 7 exhibits the bill of the Florida species (kindly sent 

 me by Professor Baird), which is robust in its general form ; the 

 culmen is straight, from the frontal plumes to the bend, and 

 the basal and apical halves appear to be about equal in length ; 

 the lateral posterior margin of the lower mandible is for its 



