8054 THE ZooLocist— May, 1872. 
side of the upper mandible, the nostrils long, pierced not far from 
the base of the bill, fitted with a membranous process, which, 
apparently furnished with a system of nerves, extends some distance 
along the mandible; interior of both upper and lower mandible 
concave or sulcate, which form is maintained to the point; thus, 
the inside of the bill, when the mandibles are closed, becomes a 
curved pipe, with a very slight twist; the sharp edges of each 
mandible are horny and semi-transparent; from the base of the 
bill the upper mandible is flattened on the top for a distance of 
about six lines; it then assumes a raised and slightly rounded form, 
till it gradually sweeps down into the point; forehead, chin and 
the whole of the under parts white, with a broad irregular band of 
blackish feathers stretching across the breast, widest on the left or 
near side; above the bill, from eye to eye, runs a narrow slip of 
very pale brownish colour; crown of the head and upper surface 
of the body ash-gray; wings long and pointed; primaries dark 
brown, outer narrow vein of each primary darkest; shaft of feathers 
distinctly white; first feather longest; tail moderate, ash-gray, 
middle feathers inclined to brown; legs gartered, or naked just 
above the tarsal joint; legs and feet a peculiar tint of black-green, 
with a green shade; toes three to the front and none behind, united 
at the base by a membrane extending to the first joint, bottom of 
toes greenish brown, middle toe and nail longest, nails short and 
black. Bill measures 1 inch 2 lines; wing 4 inches 9 lines; tarsus 
1 inch 2 lines; middle toe with nail 11 lines; total length 8 inches 
5} lines. 
The chick of the above-mentioned is covered with freckled gray 
down ; undersurface silky white; wings pale brownish; the deflection 
of the bill easily distinguishable. Bill measures 6 lines; tarsus 10 
lines ; middle toe with nail 8 lines; total length 2 inches 8 lines. 
Birds of ‘the year do not assume the black band: females differ 
little from the males in size; the band is not so conspicuous, as it 
is much narrower than in the male: fine old males have the breast- 
band broad, and that on the forehead dark brown. I have never 
seen this bird assemble in large flocks like C. bicinctus. 
The peculiar formation of the bill has apparently induced 
naturalists to exhibit considerable doubt as to the proper position 
of this, perhaps, unique species. Without referring to all the 
notices of this bird which have appeared at different times, it may 
be mentioned that at least one eminent ornithologist considered 
