BIRDS. OF NOBTH AND MIDDLE AMEBIOA. 91 



narrowly rounded to distinctly ridged; maxillary tomium more or 

 less strongly concave anteriorly, nearly straight for basal two-thirds 

 (more or less). Nostril narrowly oval or broadly elliptical, wholly 

 exposed. Wing rather long, the longest primaries exceeding distal 

 secondaries by nearly to decidedly more than length of tarsus; sixth 

 and seventh primaries longest, the ninth about equal to third or 

 fourth, the tenth (outermost) slightly more than half as long as the 

 longest primary. Tail about one-fifth longer than wing, graduated 

 for about one-fourth its length, the rectrices relatively broad, widening 

 terminally with tip broadly rounded. Tarsus decidedly to much 

 longer than middle toe with claw, about one-fourth as long as wing. 



Plumage and coloration. — Loral region wholly naked, the orbital 

 region partly so; eyelashes strongly developed; feathers of head 

 and neck more or less narrow, distinctly outlined, rather stiff; plum- 

 age in general hard and compact, with feathers of back, etc., very 

 broad and sharply outlined, those of rump and under parts of body 

 softer, more blended. Coloration entirely blackish, the wings and 

 tail (at least) glossed with violet or blue, the scapulars, interscapulars, 

 and wing-coverts margined with metallic greenish or bronzy, the 

 feathers of head and neck broadly edged with dull bronzy. Sexes 

 alike, and young not materially different. 



Range. — The whole of tropical America, except Galapagos Islands 

 and part of Lesser Antilles. (Three species.) 



This remarkable genus is so distinct in appearance and habits from 

 other Cuculidse that, judging from the living birds only, no one would 

 suspect its relationship. The Anis are gregarious and live in open 

 districts, feed much about cattle, often alighting on these animals for 

 the purpose of getting the ticks which infest them and which con- 

 stitute a favorite and important part of their diet. Even in their 

 nesting they are social birds, several females laying their eggs in the 

 same nest. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CROTOPHAGA. 



a. Larger (wing 182-316, tail 235-277); elevated ridge of culmen restricted to basal 

 two-thirds, or less, highest anteriorly; general color glossy blue-black, with lunu- 

 latesubapical markings of scapulars, etc., bright greenish bronze or bronze- 

 green, the tail strongly violaceous. (Eastern Panama to Peru, Argentina, Para- 

 guay, southern Brazil, the Guianas, and Trinidad.). . Crotophaga major (p. 92). 

 aa. Smaller (wing 128-161, tail 160-201); elevated ridge of culmen extending for whole 

 length of maxilla, highest posteriorly; general color dull black or brownish 

 black, with lunulate subapical markings of scapulars, etc., dull greenish bronze, 

 the tail not strongly violaceous. 

 6. Sides of maxilla with several very distinct and regular grooves and ridges, parallel 

 with curve of culmen. (Southern Texas, southern Arizona, etc., southward 



to Ecuador and Peru.) Crotophaga sulcirostris (p. 94). 



66. Sides of maxilla smooth, or with irregular or indistinct transverse wrinkles along 

 sides of knife-like process of culmen. (Southern Florida, southern Louis- 

 iana, etc., through West Indies, and along coast district from Yucatan to 

 southern Brazil.). Crotophaga ani (p. 97). 



