nches 



!. Lines. 







74 



1 



2 







10 







3 







5* 







4 



MERULID.E. 175 



one. The hind toe is but little shorter than the inner one, which again nearly equals the 

 outer one. The middle one exceeds these two by the entire length of its last phalanx. The 

 dau;s are short, much compressed, and but slightly curved ; the hind one is larger than the 

 middle one, which does not exceed the two lateral ones. 



Dimensions. 



Inches. Lines. 

 Length from the tip of the bill to the end Length of the bill on its ridge 



of the tail 7 6 „ of the tarsus 



„ of the tail .... 2 3 „ of the middle toe 



„ of the folded wing ... 3 6 „ of its claw 



„ of the bill from the angle of the „ of the hind toe 



mouth ...... 1 „ of its claw 



One of the other specimens, which is of rather smaller dimensions and pro- 

 bably a younger bird, differs in the wing coverts and most of the under plumage 

 being slightly tipped with greyish -white. 



In Mr. Swainson's Mexican specimen of the mature bird, the entire head and 

 adjoining part of the neck above and below have a blackish-brown tint*, nearly 

 the colour of the soot of pitch-coal. The quill feathers and tail exhibit a duller 

 tint of the same colour, while the rest of the plumage above and below is blackish- 

 grey. The margins of the interscapulary feathers are worn, but exhibit some 

 slight remains of brown ; and the ventral plumage is also slightly tinted with 

 brown on the tips. A few of the vent feathers have pale-grey tips. The bill 

 is black. The dimensions of the specimen are nearly the same as those given 

 above. — R. 



* Fuligneus. 



