104 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
g. Tarsus much shorter than middle toe without claw (scarcely longer 
than first two phalanges of middle toe); tail little if any more than 
one-fourth as long as wing; primaries relatively longer, the longest 
exceeding distal secondaries by decidedly more than half the length 
of wing; rectrices 14...:........-.-206---- Brachyramphus (p. 745), 
gg. Tarsus as long as or longer than middle toe without claw; tail 
decidedly more than one-fourth (about three-sevenths) as long as 
wing;? primaries relatively shorter, the longest exceeding distal 
secondaries by little if any more than half the length of wing; 
HOCtTICEs Ay chica oc wince cesnemnohendt ara Endomychura (p. 751) 
ff. Acrotarsium transversely scutellate; outer toe longer than middle toe 
and inner toe longer than first two phalanges of middle toe; bill 
thicker (vertically), its depth at anterior end of nostril equal to length 
of gonys; mandibular rami extensively unfeathered, the naked por- | 
tion about as long as gonys. (Synthliboramphex. yb 
Synthliboramphus (p. 755). 
add. Gonys longer than distance from its base to rictus; bill more complex in 
form, larger or stouter, usually (always?) with deciduous accessory pieces;¢ 
latero-frontal feathering not advancing as far as middle of nostril, which, 
together with its conspicuous operculum, is wholly exposed. (Phalerez.) 
e. Smaller (wing not more than 155 mm.): retrices, 14; acrotarsium wholly 
reticulate; bill relatively smaller and broader, its length from posterior 
end of nostril much less than length of tarsus; maxillary tomium straight 
or convex, mandibular tomium straight or concave; longet primaries 
exceeding distal secondaries by less than half the length of wing 
f. Bill depressed basally, its width at base decidedly greater than its depth 
at same point; distance from posterior end of nostril to tip of maxilla 
much more than half the length of tarsus; head without plumes. 
Ptychoramphus (p. 760). 
Jf. Bill not depressed basally, its width at base less than its depth at same 
point; distance from posterior end of nostril to tip of maxilla less than 
half the length of tarsus; head with ornamental plumes. 
@The tail is not really longer than in Brachyramphus, but on account of shorter 
‘primaries is longer in proportion to length of the wing. 
5 Although Dr. Stejneger suggests (Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus., no. 29, 1885, 24, 25) that 
Synthliboramphus ‘‘seems to be nearer related to the Phaleridex than tothe Uriinz” 
(i.e., the Ceppheex+Brachyramphex of this arrangement), I am unable to find charac- 
ters which would allow me to place it with that group. While possibly more nearly 
related to the Phalerex than to the Brachyramphex, Synthliboramphus possesses 80 
many unique characters that it seems best to consider it as representing a distinct 
group. Apart from the regularly scutellate acrotarsium (a character not shared by 
any of the Phalerex), Synthliboramphus is the only genus in the family which has the 
outer toe (without claw) longer than the middle toe, and the inner toe longer than the 
first two phalanges of middle toe. Its style of coloration is also quite unique. 
¢ Tt has not yet been demonstrated so far as I know that Ptychoramphus agrees with 
other Phalereze in possessing deciduous pieces on the basal portion of the bill; but I 
am inclined to believe that the linear infra-nasal piece and lateral prominence near 
middle of the mandible may be deciduous or at least scale off after the breeding 
season. Concerning this subject, see the following: Bureau, in Bull. Soc. Zool. 
France, 1879, 1-68, pls. 1-6; Ridgway, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, v. 1880, 126, 127; Coues, 
Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, v. 1880, 127, 128; Stejneger, Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus. , no. 29, 
1885, 23, 33, 34, 40-42, 48, 54, pls. 1, 3, 4, 5. The last-mentioned is especially im- 
‘portant. 
