314 
LARINA. 
RHYNCHOPS. 
the base, suddenly extremely compressed and continuing so 
to the end ; upper mandible much shorter than the lower, 
its ridge sharp, the sides erect but a little convex, the edges 
approximated so as to leave merely a very narrow groove 
between them, the tip a little rounded, when viewed late- 
rally ; nasal groove rather short, near the margin ; lower 
mandible with the angle extremely short, the dorsal line 
straight or slightly decurved, the sides erect, obliquely 
grooved, the edges united into a very thin blade, which fits 
into the narrow groove of the upper mandible, the tip 
rounded or abrupt, when viewed laterally. Nostrils linear- 
oblong. Head rather large, oblong, considerably elevated 
in front ; neck rather short, thick ; body short, ovate. Feet 
short, moderately stout ; tibia bare below, with narrow 
transverse scutella before and behind ; tarsus short, ante- 
riorly covered with broad scutella ; toes very small, the 
first extremely short and free, unless at the base ; middle 
toe slightly longer^ than outer ; anterior toes united by 
deeply emarginate webs. Claws long, compressed, slightly 
arched, rather obtuse. Plumage moderately full, soft, and 
blended ; wings extremely long, and very narrow ; primary 
quills excessively long, the first longest ; secondaries short. 
Tail of moderate length, deeply forked, of twelve feathers. 
Tongue short, triangular, tapering ; oesophagus wide ; sto- 
mach rather small, oblong, muscular, the cuticular lining 
dense, with nine broad longitudinal rugae ; intestine rather 
long, narrow ; coeca very small ; cloaca large, globular, the 
digestive organs are precisely similar to those of the Terns 
and smaller Gulls. 
428, 1. Rhynchops nigra, Linn. Black Skimmer. 
Plate CCCXXIII. Male 
Bill rich carmine in its basal half, the rest black ; feet carmine ; 
upper plumage deep brownish-black ; secondary quills and four or five 
of the primaries tipped with white, the latter on the inner web chiefly ; 
tail-feathers black, broadly margined on both sides with white, the 
