216 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. 



rate length, rather strong; tarsus anteriorly covered with seven scutella, 

 posteriorly with two plates forming a sharp edge; toes rather large, the first ■ 

 stout, the lateral nearly equal, the middle toe much longer. Claws rather 

 long, arched, much compressed, acute. 



Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, broad. The first 

 quill two-twelfths shorter than the second, which is longest, but scarcely 

 exceeds the third, the fourth longer than the first; secondaries slightly emar- 

 ginate. Tail rather long, nearly even. 



Bill with the upper mandible dusky, the lower white. Iris hazel. Feet 

 and claws wood-brown. Head, cheeks, and a small portion of the throat 

 black; the upper parts brownish-black; the feathers on the lower part of the 

 hind neck all round, a streak over each eye, another along the middle of the 

 hind head, the greater part of the rump, and the lower parts generally, 

 yellowish-red or brownish-orange; the edges of some of the feathers on the 

 back, a broad band formed by the first row of small coverts, a narrow band 

 formed by the tips of the secondary coverts, a band on the base of the pri- 

 maries, the outer web of the first excepted, the margins of three of the 

 primaries toward the end, and a spot on the outer web of most of the 

 secondaries at the end; a large patch on the inner web of all the tail-feathers, 

 excepting the two middle, and largest on the outer, pure white; the middle 

 of the breast and abdomen, with the axillaries and lower wing-coverts, 

 yellow. 



Length to end of tail S-£ inches; wing from flexure 4|; tail 3-2%; bill along 

 the ridge ~^, along the edge of lower mandible T §; tarsus \\; hind toe yf, its 

 claw T 5 2; middle toe j S , its claw yf . 



Adult Female. 



The female is much less beautiful. The bill is of a lighter brown above, 

 brownish-white beneath, with the edges and tip of the lower mandible light 

 brown; the feet and claws wood-brown. The upper parts are wood-brown, 

 the head darker, with three longitudinal bands of brownish-white; a band of 

 reddish-white across the hind neck, the feathers of the back margined with 

 whitish; the wings marked as in the male, but with brownish-white; the 

 tail without white spots. The lower parts are of a much paler tint than 

 those of the male; the axillars and lower wing-coverts yellow. 



Length to end of tail S^ inches; bill along the ridge f^; tarsus -f^; middle 

 toe and claw 1-fV. 



