RHYNCHOPS. 327 



Subfamily RHYNCHOPIN^. 



Both mandibles greatly compressed, the upper considerably 

 shorter than the lower, convex on both sides towards the base. 

 General form slight, Tern-like. 



The bill of a young llhynchops, when the bird is hatched, 

 resembles that of a Tern. 



Genus RHYNCHOPS, Linn., 1766. 



Culmen curved ; low^er mandible knife-like, flexible, truncated 

 at the end and closely marked on the side with minute oblique 

 ridges ; nostrils elongate, near base of upper inaudible and near 

 commissure, and opening in an irregular hollow. Wings very 

 long, 1st long quill longest ; tail short, slightly forked. Feet small ; 

 webs between toes with concave edges ; tarsus longer than middle 

 toe and claw. 



Five species are known, of which three are American, one is 

 African, one Indian. 



1517. Khynchops albicollis. The Indian Skimmer or 

 Scissors-bill. (Fig. 68, p. 296.) 4 



S. F. iv, p. 32; v, pp. ^25, 235; A. Anderson, P. Z. S. 1877, 

 p. 807; Wardl. Rams. Ibis, 1877, p. 472; Hume $ Dav. & F. vi, 



A*-\f\ T\ * . O TTr 7 O T7T _ ** _. r\O T7. . -"7, * .1 C\i \ . 



Hume, S. F. xi, p. 351 ; Oates in Hume's N. fy K 2nd ed. iii, p. 310 ; 

 launders, Cat. 13. M. xxv, p. 159. 



Panchira, H. 



Coloration. Forehead, lores, cheeks, neck all round, and all lower 

 parts white: crown, nape, back, and wings blackish brown ; secon- 

 daries broadly tipped white, tertiaries and scapulars narrowly edged 

 with white near the tip ; middle of rump, middle tail-coverts, and 

 iuDer webs of median rectrices blackish brown ; sides of rump and 

 of upper tail-coverts and remainder of tail white. 



Bill deep orange, yellowish at the tip of both mandibles ; irides 

 brown ; legs bright vermilion-red. 



Length 16-5 ; tail 4'5 ; wing 16 ; tarsus 1-1 ; lower mandible 

 from gape 3'5 to 4, upper inaudible half an inch to an inch 

 shorter. 



Distribution. The larger rivers of India and Burma. This bird 

 is unknown in Ceylon. 



Habits, $c. The Indian Skimmer is usually seen on broad and 



