252 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



convex, its depth at base a little less than half the length of culmen, 

 its basal width decidedlj' less than half the length of exposed culmen; 

 culmen gentlj- convex (the terminal portion more decidedly so), the 

 middle' portion nearly straight, distinctly ridged, but the ridge broad 

 and rounded; gonys straight, decidedly shorter than maxilla from 

 nostril; commissure nearly straight or slightly convex in middle, 

 straight or faintly concave terminally and subbasally, the basal por- 

 tion strongly but not abruptly deflexed to the rictus. Nostril small, 

 narrow, oblique (anterior end highest), decidedly above lateral median 

 line of maxilla, posteriorly in contact with dense feathering of the 

 frontal antise, the latter filling the greater part of the nasal fossse, 

 leaving but a small and narrow membi'ane exposed above and mostly 

 behind the nostril. Wing moderate (nearly five times as long as cul- 

 men, nearly four times as long as tai'sus), the tip moderately produced 

 (a little longer than tarsus), slightly rounded or subtruncate; outer- 

 most (ninth) primaiy equal to fifth or a little shorter; seventh or 

 seventh and sixth primaries longest, the eighth but little shorter; 

 inner webs of three or four outer primaries slightly sinuated beyond 

 middle. Tail not plicate, about four-fifths as long as wing (about 

 four times as long as culmen), rounded, the rectrices slightly wider 

 terminally and with rounded tips. Tarsus much longer than culmen 

 (a little less than one-third as long as tail), its anterior scutella dis- 

 tinct; middle toe, with claw, slightly shorter than tarsus; claws of 

 lateral toes falling short of base of middle claw; hallux about as long 

 as lateral toes, much stouter, its claw decidedly shoi'ter than the digit. 

 Plumage of the throat and chest peculiar; "the barbicels, while 

 apparently of normal number, are fasciculate, and, except at its basal 

 third, adhere to the barb; for the terminal half of the feather, there- 

 fore, the barbs have no connection with one another, and this gives 

 to the parts in which these feathers grow a finely streaked, hairy 

 appearance. " ' 



Coloration. — Entirely black, glossed with violet (bluish green on 

 wings and tail); sexes alike in color. 



Range. — Peculiar to the island of Cuba, Greater Antilles. (Mono- 

 typic.) 



PTILOXENA ATROVIOLACEA (D'Orbigny). 

 D'ORBIGNY'S BLACKBIRD. 



Adults {sexes alihe). — Uniform glossy black, the head, neck, and 

 chest with a slight bluish reflection, passing into a more violet hue on 

 back, scapulars, lesser and middle wing-coverts, rump, and under 

 parts of body, the gloss on margins of greater wing-coverts, remiges, 

 and rectrices bluish or bluish green; bill, legs, and feet, black; iris 

 brown. ^ 



^Chapman, Bull. Am. Mua. Nat. Hist., iv, 1892, pp. 307, 308. 

 ^3, H. Biley, manuscript. 



