244 BACHMAN'S OYSTER-CATCHER. 



Lower mandible with the angle rather short and narrow, the dorsal line 

 straight and slightly ascending, the ridge narrow, the sides a little convex 

 and erect, with a shallow groove at the base, the edges sharp and direct. 



Head of moderate size, ovate, the forehead convex. Neck rather long. 

 Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tibia bare for half an inch; tarsus 

 rather short, slightly compressed, covered all round with hexagonal scales; 

 toes rather short and fleshy, the hind toe wanting, the second shorter than 

 the fourth, the third considerably longer, all scaly at the base above, scutel- 

 late towards the end, flattened and broad beneath, with thick margins, and 

 connected at the base by short webs, of which the outer is longer. Claws 

 small, compressed at the base, depressed and rounded at the end, that of the 

 middle toe largest, with a somewhat dilated thin inner edge. 



Plumage of the head and neck short and blended, of the back rather com- 

 pact and slightly glossed, of the lower parts blended, the feathers in general 

 ovate and rounded. Wings long, acute; primaries tapering toward the end, 

 but obtuse, the first longest, the second one-twelfth of an inch shorter, the 

 third two-twelfths shorter than the second, the rest more rapidly graduated; 

 secondaries broad and rounded, the inner much elongated and tapering. Tail 

 short, nearly even, of twelve rather broad, rounded feathers, of which the 

 lateral are two-twelfths shorter than the middle (but as they are all worn the 

 proportions cannot be determined). 



Bill vermilion, fading to 3^ellow on the worn parts toward the end. Edges 

 of eyelids vermilion; iris yellow. Feet white, slightly tinged with flesh- 

 colour; claws yellowish, toward the end dusky. The plumage is chocolate- 

 brown, darker, and tinged with bluish-grey on the head and neck; the under 

 surface of the quills light brownish-grey, their shafts whitish. 



Length to end of tail 17^ inches; bill along the ridge 2-j%, along the edge 

 of lower mandible 2 T °|, its greatest height beyond the nostrils -ff ; wing from 

 flexure 10; tail 3 T |; tarsus Iff; inner toe 1, its claw y^; middle toe lfj, its 

 claw f|; outer toe 1 T \-, its claw ff. 



