SCOLOPACEOUS COURLAN. 545 
than towards the point; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight 
until towards the end, then slightly arcuato-declinate, the ridge con- 
vex in its whole length, the sides nearly erect, more convex towards 
the extremity, the tip blunted, the edges broad and obtuse for half 
their length, sharp but thick in the rest of their extent; lower man- 
dible slightly ascending at the base, then direct, much compressed to- 
wards the tip, which is acute, the angle long and very narrow, the 
dorsal line slightly convex, the edges obtuse, becoming sharp towards 
the end. Nasal groove nearly half the length of the bill; nostrils 
direct, linear, long. 
Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Eyes rather large. Neck 
long and slender. Body ovato-oblong, much compressed. Feet very 
long and slender, rather stout ; tibia bare in its lower half, which is 
anteriorly covered with hexagonal scales, posteriorly with transverse 
seutella; tarsus long, compressed, anteriorly with numerous broad 
scutella, laterally with very small elongated scales, posteriorly with 
large scutelliform scales, many of which-are divided ; toes long, ra- 
ther slender; hind toe small and elevated ; fourth considerably longer 
than second, middle toe nine-twelfths of an inch longer than the 
outer; the anterior toes are divided to the base, compressed, scutel- 
late above, scaly on the sides, papillate beneath, compressed and not 
marginate. Claws of moderate length, very slightly arched, com- 
pressed, tapering to a point; that of the first toe smallest, of the third 
largest, without serratures on the inner edge, which is thin and a little 
expanded. 
Plumage of ordinary texture, rather compact and glossy on the 
upper parts, blended on the lower; feathers on the head and neck 
short, oblong ; on the back ovate and very broadly rounded. Wings 
of moderate length, very broad, concave, rounded ; primaries broad, 
secondaries very broad and rounded; first primary two-thirds of the 
length of the second, which is ten-twelfths shorter than the third ; the 
fourth, which is longest, exceeds the third by one-twelfth, and the 
fifth by half a twelfth ; some of the secondaries reach to half an inch 
of the tip of the longest primary when the wing is closed; the three 
outer quills are narrower toward the base than toward the extremity, 
more especially the first. The tail is short, broad, convex, rounded, 
of twelve broad, rounded feathers. 
Bill greenish-yellow, dusky toward the end of both mandibles, but 
VOL. IV. Mm 
