2210 The Zoologist— July, J 870. 



the upper mandible; nostrils low down in the fossa, small, short, nar- 

 rowly linear. Frontal feathers laid straight across the base of culmen, 

 descending nearly perpendicularly along the posterior edge of the 

 nasal fossae, just attaining the posterior end of the nostrils, then 

 retreating obliquely backwards and downwards. Feathers on side of 

 lower mandible extending to a point opposite those on culmen ; some- 

 what further into the inlerramal space, which is densely feathered. 

 Wings and tail of usual size and shape. Feet small, tarsi moderately 

 compressed, much shorter than the middle toe and without its claw; 

 only two-thirds the middle toe and claw ; outer toe as long as, or 

 slightly longer than, the middle, its claw much smaller than that of 

 the middle; tip of inner claw just reaching base of middle claw. 



Entire upper parts blackish cinereous, or very dark lead-colour, 

 deepest and very black on the crown, wings and tail. Entire upper 

 parts much lighter and more grayish plumbeous, insensibly blending 

 with the colour of the upper parts on the sides of the head, neck and 

 body, fading very gradually into whitish on the abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts. Inner webs of primaries, secondaries and tail-feathers 

 dusky gray ; the outer glossy black ; under surface of wings dusky 

 gray, nearly black along the edge. Bill dusky, tinged with red ; tarsi 

 behind and toes below black ; rest of feet an undefinable colour in 

 the dried state, perhaps reddish in life. "Eyes white and black" 

 (collector's label). 



This is a very strongly-marked species, differing to a remarkable 

 degree from any other of the family. The chief peculiarity of form 

 lies in the bill ; so small, simple, extremely compressed, destitute of 

 appendages, and otherwise unique, as will be seen by the description. 

 As regards colour, the tinge of clear plumbeous which pervades the 

 uniform dark colour is very characteristic. There is no trace of a 

 crest, nor of elongated filiform feathers about the head : their 

 absence, however, is not to be regarded as a specific character, since 

 it cannot be positively affirmed that the specimen is fully adult. 



The affinities of the species are clearly with S. telraculus, which it 

 resembles in the small simple compressed bill. But it is unnecessary 

 to compare the two and point out the differences. A glance at the 

 dimensions will alone suffice to show specific distinction. There is no 

 other bird in the family that S. Cassini in the least resembles. 



SimorhyncliHs microceros (Brandt), Coues. — Habitat: Asiatic and 

 American coasts of North Pacific; Kamtschatka; Kurile Islands; 

 Plover Bay ; Sitka ; Japan. Numerous specimens in the Mus. Acad., 



