562 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



than length of maxilla from nostril. Wing rather short (about three 

 and a half times as long as tarsus), much rounded (ninth primary 

 shorter than fourth); primaries exceeding secondaries by much less 

 than exposed culmen. Tail about five-sixths as long as wing, 

 rounded, the rectrices rather broad. Tarsus about one-third as long 

 as tail, its scutella distinct; middle toe with claw shorter than tarsus; 

 lateral claws falling decidedly short of base of middle claw; hallux 

 shorter than inner toe, its claw shorter than the digit. 



Coloration. — Uniform black (adult male) or dark slaty (female) with 

 white under wing-coverts. 



Range. — Islands of Cuba and Grand Cayman^ Greater Antilles. 



This genus is an exaggeration of SporopliUa^ but between the most 

 similar species of the latter and the type of Melopyrrha there is a con- 

 siderable gap. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF MELOPYRIJHA. 



a. Smaller (exposed culmen not more than 11.68, tarsus not more than 18.29; adult 

 male with violet-blue gloss, and primary coverts only partly white; adult female 



and immature male slate-blackish. (Cuba. ) Melopyrrha nigra (p. 562) 



cm. Large (exposed culmen 12.70 or more, tarsus 18.80 or more); adult male with 

 greenish blue gloss, and primary coverts wholly white; adult female and imma- 

 ture male dull slate, tinged with olive. (Grand Cayman. ) 



Melopyrrha taylori (p. 563) 



MELOPYRRHA NIGRA (Linnaeus). 

 CTJBAN BULLFINCH. 



Adult tnale. — Uniform black, glossed with dull blue or violet blue; 

 under wing-coverts, axillars, greater portion of inner webs of second- 

 aries, more or less of inner webs of primaries (except the outermost), 

 alula, part of primary coverts, and edging to outer web of one or 

 more primaries white; bill black; legs and feet dark brownish; length, 

 (skins), 111.76-135.89 (128.27); wing, 63.50-67.06 (66.53); tail, 54.61- 

 60.45 (56.64); exposed culmen, 10.92-11.68 (11.18); depth of bill at 

 base, 10.16-10.92 (10.41); tarsus, 17.27-18.29 (17.53); middle toe, 

 12.19-13.46 (12.70).' 



AcImU female. — Similar to adult male, but the black duller and less 

 glossy, sometimes inclining to dark slate-color, especially on the pos- 

 terior under parts; under tail-coverts sometimes narrowly margined 

 with white; length (skins), 111.76-127.00 (123.95); wing, 60.96-64.26 

 (62.48); tail, 52.83-55.37 (53.85); exposed culmen, 10.16-11.43(10.67); 

 depth of bill at base, 10.16-10.67(10.41); tarsus, 17.02-18.03 (17.53); 

 middle toe, 12.19-12.95 (12.45).' 



Cuba. 

 [Loxia] nigra Linnaeus, Syst. Nat.,ed. 10, i, 1758, 175 (based on Rubidlh minor 

 nigra Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carolina, p. 68, pi. 68); ed. 12, i, 1766, 306. 



' Six specimens. '^ Seven specimens. 



