380 BLACK-CAP TITMOUSE. 
dibles with the dorsal line slightly convex, the sides sloping and con- 
vex, the edges sharp, that of the upper mandible slightly sinuate. 
Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the recumbent feathers. Head 
large, neck short, body rubust. Feet of ordinary length, rather robust ; 
tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes large, the three 
anterior united as far as the second joint ; the hind one much stronger, 
and with its claw nearly as long as the middle toe. Claws large, 
arched, much compressed, acute. 
Plumage blended. tufty ; feathers of the head glossy. Wings of 
moderate length, the first quill scarcely half the length of the second, 
which is equal to the first secondary, the third and seventh about 
equal, the fourth arid fifth equal and longest. Tail long, a little 
arched, emarginate and rounded, of twelve slender rounded feathers. 
Bill brownish-black. Iris dark brown. Feet greyish-blue, as are 
the claws. The whole upper part of the head and the hind neck pure 
black, as is a large patch on the throat and fore-neck. Between these 
patches of black is a band of white, from the base of the bill down the 
sides of the neck, becoming broader behind, and encroaching on the 
back, which, with the wing-coverts, is ash-grey tinged with brown. 
Quills dark greyish-brown, margined with bluish-white, the secondary 
quills so broadly margined as to leave a conspicuous white dash on 
the wing ; tail of the same colour, the feathers similarly edged. L.ower 
parts brownish-white, the sides pale yellowish-brown. 
Length to end of tail 54 inches, to end of wings 33, to end of claws 
44; extent of wings 81: wing from flexure 21%; tail 27%; these mea- 
surements taken from three males. In another, the bill along the ridge 
44, along the edge of lower mandible 74; tarsus 7%; hind toe 7, its 
claw 73; middle toe 75, its claw 75. 
Adult Female. Plate CCCLIII. Fig. 4. 
The Female is similar to the male. 
Male examined. ‘The tongue is 43 twelfths long, emarginate and 
papillate at the base, flat above, depressed, tapering, the point horny, 
slit, with four bristly points. £sophagus, b, c, d, 13 inch long, taper- 
ing at the commencement to the diameter of 2 twelfths, and then 
continuing nearly uniform, without dilatation ; the proventriculus, ¢, d, 
