HARPORHYNCHUS. 



43 



BoNAP. Cousp. 1850, 276. — Oreoscoptes montanus, Baird, Birds N. 

 Amer. 1858, 347.— Sclatek, P. Z. S. 1859, 340.— Ib. Catal. 1861, 

 8, no. 30. 



Hab. Rocky Mts. of United States, west to Pacific, south to Cape St. Lucas. 



Specimens fi'om Cape St. Lucas, as usual, are smaller than more 

 northei'n ones. 



A young bird from Ft. Bridger is precisely like the adult, diifcr- 

 iug only in having the edges of the dorsal feathers lighter, causing 

 a streaked appearance. The wings and tail are considerably darker 

 than in an adult. 



1L531. Iris yellow. 32,164. Length, 8,60. Iris orange. 



HARPORHYNCHUS, Cabanis. 



Toxostoma, Waglek, Isis, 1831, 528. (Type T. vetula, Wagl., not 



Toxostoma, Raf. 1816.) 

 Harpes, Gambel, Pr. A. N. S. Phila. II, 1845, 264. (Type Ilarpes redi- 



vivus, Game., not of Goldf0ss, 1839.) 

 Harporhynchus, Cabanis, Archiv f. Natur^. 1848, t, 98. (Type Harpes 



redivivus, Game.) 



Bill from forehead as long as, or much, longer than the head ; becoming 

 more and more decurved in both jaws as lengthened. No indication of a 

 notch. Rictus with the bristles extending beyond the nostrils. Tarsus long 

 and stout, appreciably exceeding the middle toe and claw, strongly scutellate 

 anteriorly. Wings considerably shorter than tail, much rounded ; the 1st 

 quill more than half the 2d ; 4th or 5th longest. Tail large, much graduated ; 

 the feathers firm. 



There are few genera in Ornithology where the difference in the 

 comparative length and shape of the bill is so great in the different 

 species ; and yet the transition from the short straight form in H. 

 rufus to the very long and much decurved one in H. redivivus is 



