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 
emarginate. 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 inches; wing from flexure 4J; tail 3 T 3 2 ; bill along 
the ridge T 9 2 , along the edge of lower mandible }f; tarsus H, hind toe 
t 4 2 J , its claw fW ; middle toe T 8 2 , its claw fkh 
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 8^ inches; bill along the ridge T 9 2 ; tarsus middle 
toe and claw ly*. 
