468 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Tarsus much longer than middle toe (without claw), the latter slightly- 

 more than two-thirds to more than four-fifths (in 0. chrysia) as long 

 as tarsus ; acrotarsium with a single row of broad, transverse scutella 

 (those on upper portion sometimes fused), the planta tarsi usually 

 smooth but sometimes (in 0. caniceps, 0. chrysia, and apparently 0. 

 mystacea and 0. lourcieri) with more or less distinct small hexagonal 

 scales; tibio-tarsal joint, including extreme lower portion of tibia 

 (all round), bare; lateral toes about equal in length or inner one 

 slightly longer than the outer, the claw of inner toe reaching about to 

 base of middle claw or (in 0. montana, 0. martinica, 0. violacea, and 0. 

 veraguensis) falling short of the latter; hallux decidedly longer than 

 basal phalanx of middle toe. 



Plumage and coloration. — Plumage essentially normal, but some 

 species (0. albifacies, 0. chiriquensis, and 0. lourcieri) with feathers of 

 neck distinctly outlined or scale-like, others (0. caniceps and 0. 

 veraguensis) with plumage of forehead rather full and dense; orbital 

 region (more or less extensively) naked. Coloration exceedingly 

 variable, but always plain, except head, which usually shows a dark 

 (black or chestnut) submalar streak; some species with upper parts 

 glossed with metallic green, purple, or violet; sexes alike (or essen- 

 tially so) in most species, but very dissimilar in 0. montana and 

 0. martinica. 



Range. — West Indies (including Bahamas), Florida Keys, and 

 southern Mexico southward to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, 

 and Peru. (About 20 species.) 



It is almost certain that this group, as above characterized, requires 

 subdivision; but I have been unable to divide it satisfactorily, not- 

 withstanding the marked differences in details of structure among the 

 various species. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OP OREOPELEIA. 



a. Inner webs of remiges with at least an edging of vinaceous-cinnamon or dull cinna- 

 mon-rufous on proxinal portion. 

 6. Sides of head, throat, foreneck, and chest plain slate-gray; rump glossed with 



metallic blue. (Cuba.) Oreopeleia caniceps (p. 470). 



66. Sides of head, throat, etc. , not slate-gray; rump not glossed with metallic blue, 

 c. Tail with more or less of rufous-chestnut, or else no white stripe on side of head. 

 d. A white stripe on side of head, involving anterior portion of malar region. 

 e. Rump chestnut, glossed with metallic purple; lesser wing-coverts chest- 

 nut. (Bahamas, Cuba, and Haiti; Jamaica?; Porto Rico?; occasional on 



Florida Keys.) Oreopeleia chrysia (p. 471). 



ee. Rump olive or olive-brown, not glossed; lesser wing-coverts grayish-brown 



to olive-brown. (Oreopeleia mystacea.) 



f. Under parts paler, with much white or pale buff posteriorly. (Culebra 



and St. Johns, Greater Antilles; Barbuda, Antigua, Montserrat, 



Guadeloupe, Grand Terre, Dominica, Martinique, and Santa Lucia, 



Lesser Antilles.) Oreopeleia mystacea mystacea (p. 474). 



o Based on adults only. 



