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TOWNSEND'S OYSTER-CATCHER 



HjEMATOPUS TOWNSENDI. 

 PLATE CCCCXXVII. Male. 



A specimen of this species, which very closely resembles the last, 

 but is much larger, and differs in its proportions, was also forwarded to 

 me by Dr Townsend, but without any notice respecting its habits or 

 distribution. I have compared it with some specimens brought from 

 the coast of California, with which it agrees in all respects. It is not 

 improbable however, that, like our Hwmatopus palliatus, which in sum- 

 mer extends from the shores of South America to those of Labrador, 

 the present species as well as H. Bachmani, courses the shores of the 

 Pacific Ocean, to a very high latitude. I have taken the liberty of 

 naming it after its discoverer. 



H^MATOPUS TOWNSENDI. 



Male. Plate CCCCXXVII. Fig. 3. 



Bill long, slender but strong, slightly recurved, or ascending, be- 

 yond the nostrils, about the same height and breadth at the base, toward 

 the end extremely compressed, terminating in an exceedingly thin 

 wedge-shaped point. Upper mandible with the dorsal line at the base 

 straight and slightly sloping, a little arched beyond the nostrils, then 

 nearly straight and sloping to the point, the ridge broad and flattened 

 as far as the prominence, afterwards extremely narrow, the sides slo- 

 ping at the base, perpendicular towards the end, the edges sharp, direct, 

 and about the middle slightly overlapping. Nasal groove basal, long ; 

 nostrils sub-basal, in the middle of the groove near the margin, linear, 

 direct, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle rather short and nar- 

 row, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the ridge very nar- 

 row, the sides erect and nearly flat, with a shallow groove at the base, 

 the edges sharp and direct. 



Head of moderate size, ovate, the fore head convex. Neck rather 

 long. Feet of moderate length, rather stout, tibia bare for three-quar- 



