BIEDS — TETRAONIDAE — PEDIOCAETES. 



625 



the middle (or about two-thirds) and exceeded in length by the under coverts. The feathers on 

 the fore part of the breast^ and especially on its side, are excessively rigid and spinous, with 

 the webs much worn dotra. The bill is lengthened, and the nasal fossa with its feathers 

 extends very far forwards to a point more than half the length of the culmen. 



The upper parts in this species are greatly variegated, with a mottling of black, brownish 

 yellow, and whitish. On the neck and fore part of the back the feathers are blackish, with 

 several broad, zigzag transverse bars of light brownish yellow. On the back and wings the 

 feathers have, in addition, longitudinal streaks of the same, the transverse bars concealed and the 

 terminal portions coarsely mottled. The tertials, in addition, have a terminal bar of brownish 

 yellow, the much elongated upper coverts and the tail feathers are quite similarly mottled. 



The under parts, from the breast to the tail, are pure continuous black, the under coverts 

 black tipped with white. The lower part of the throat, with the sides of the neck, have a half 

 collar of black. Below this the throat is lighter ; the shafts of the feathers stiff and black. 

 There is a white band behind the eye curving down and crossing the throat ; the rest of the 

 neck is mottled with black, white, and gray. The sides beneath the wings are like the 

 scapulars, but the black of the belly is bordered laterally by white, somewhat blotched with 

 black. 



Specimens vary somewhat, and it is probable that in full dress the male shows no transverse 

 bars on the back and neck above. The females before me are much like the males, only smaller, 

 more banded above ; the black of the belly more restricted ; the chin, throat above, and cheeks 

 dull brownish white. The feathers of the neck have stiffened shafts, but these are not 

 conspicuous. 



List of specimens. 



PEDIOCAETES, Baird. 



Ch . Tail short, graduated ; exclusive of the lengthened middle part, (perhaps tail coverts,) half the full rounded 



wing. Tarsi densely feathered to the toes and between their bases. Neck without peculiar feathers. Culmen between the 

 nasal fossae not half the total length . 



But one species of this genus is known to naturalists, most of whom associate it with 

 Centrocercus, from which, however, it seems to differ in well marked characters. 

 July r, 1858. 



79 b 



