BLACK SKIMMER. 209 
approximated so as to leave merely a very narrow groove between them ; 
the tip a little rounded when viewed laterally. Nasal groove rather 
short, narrow near the margin; nostrils linear-oblong, sub-basal in the 
_soft membrane. Lower mandible with the angle extremely short, the 
dorsal outline straight or slightly decurved, the sides erect, the edges 
united into a very thin blade which fits into the narrow groove of the 
upper mandible, the tip rounded or abrupt when viewed laterally. 
Head rather large, oblong, considerably elevated in front. Neck short 
and thick. Body short, ovate, and compact. Feet short, moderately 
stout ; tibia bare below, with narrow transverse scutella before and be- 
hind ; tarsus short, moderately compressed, anteriorly covered with 
broad scutella, reticulated on the sides and behind; toes very small ; 
the first extremely short, and free; the inner much shorter than the 
outer, which is but slightly exceeded by the middle toe; the webs very 
deeply concave at the margin, especially the inner. Claws long, com- 
pressed, tapering, slightly arched, rather obtuse, the inner edge of the 
middle toe dilated and extremely thin. Plumage moderately full, soft, 
and blended ; the feathers oblong and rounded. Wings extremely 
elongated, and very narrow: the primary quills excessively long; the 
first longest, the rest rapidly graduated ; the secondaries short, broad, 
incurved, obliquely pointed, some of the inner more elongated. Tail 
rather short, deeply forked, of twelve feathers, disposed in two inclined 
planes. ) 
Bill of a rich carmine, inclining to vermilion for about half its 
length, the rest black. Iris hazel. Feet of the same colour as the base 
of the bill, claws black. The upper parts are deep brownish-black ; 
the secondary quills, and four or five of the primaries, tipped with white ; 
the latter on their inner web chiefly. Tail-feathers black, broadly mar- 
gined on both sides with white, the outer more extensively ; the middle 
tail-coverts black, the lateral black on the inner and white on the outer 
web. A broad band of white over the forehead, extending to the fore 
part of the eye; cheeks and throat of the same colour; the rest of the 
neck and lower parts in spring and summer of a delicate cream-colour ; 
axillary feathers, lower wing-coverts, and a large portion of the se- 
condary quills, white; the coverts along the edge of the wing black. 
Length from point of upper mandible to end of tail 20 inches, to 
end of wings 244, to end of claws 17; to carpal joint 8}; extent of 
wings 48; upper mandible 3}; its edge 33; from base to point of lower 
VOL. Iv. 6) 
