Front matter (continued 5)

Downy Woodpecker, Picus pubescens, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 153.

Picus pubescens, Bonap. Syn. p. 46.

Picus (Dendrocopus) pubescens, Downy Woodpecker, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 307.

Downy Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 576.

Downy Woodpecker, Picus pubescens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 81; v. v. p. 539.

266. 11. Picus Gairdnerii, Aud. Gairdner's Woodpecker.

Not figured.

Bill shorter than the head, slender; fourth toe considerably longer than third, fifth quill longest; black above, with a scarlet occipital band, brownish-white beneath; spotted with white, and in all respects as to colour like the last species, only the spots on the wings are much smaller, and the patch of red brocade; the toes and bill larger.

Length, 6⁸/₁₂; wing, 3¹⁰/₁₂.

Columbia River.

Gairdner's Woodpecker, Picus Gairdnerii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 317.

267. 12. Picus querulus, Wils. Red-cockaded Woodpecker.

Plate CCCLXXXIX.

Upper part of the head, hind neck, and a band on each side of the neck, glossy black; a large patch on the side of the head and neck white; back black, barred with white; wings brownish-black, spotted with white, there being eight spots on the outer, and six on the inner webs of the longest quills; middle tail-feathers black, outer four on each side white, with black bars; lower parts white, sides of the neck and body with oblong black spots. Male with a small carmine line behind the eye.

Male, 8¹/₂, 14¹/₂. Female, 7³/₈, 13¹/₄.

From Texas to New Jersey, along the Atlantic districts. Common. In the interior to Lower Mississippi. Resident.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picus querulus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 103.

Picus querulus, Bonap. Syn. p. 46.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 577.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Picus querulus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 12.

268. 13. Picus Auduboni, Trudeau. Audubon's Woodpecker.

Plate CCCCXVII. Adult.

Bill about the length of the head, with the outlines considerably arched, the tips acute, and not laterally worn; upper parts black, lower white, with a tinge of brown, the sides very faintly barred with dusky; tufts covering the nostrils white; on the anterior part of the top of the head some feathers largely tipped with yellow; a band of white over the eye; loral space and a broad band behind the eye black; feathers along the middle of the back tipped with white; wings spotted with white; six spots on the outer, and four on the inner webs of the longer primaries; four middle tail-feathers black, the next with the tip obliquely white, that colour enlarging on the rest, so as to include almost the whole of the outer feathers.

Adult, 7, 13¹/₂.

Louisiana.

Picus Auduboni, Audubon's Woodpecker, Trudeau, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 404.

Audubon's Woodpecker, Picus Auduboni, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 194.

269. 14. Picus ruber. Gmel. Red-breasted Woodpecker.

Plate CCCCXVI. Fig. 9. Male. Fig. 10. Female.

Head, neck, and fore part of breast, deep carmine; upper parts black, variegated with white, lower pale yellow, with the sides undulated with dusky; middle tail-feathers with the inner web white, obliquely banded with black.

Male, 8, 14. Female, 8; wing, 5²/₁₂.

Upper California. Columbia River. Nootka. Common. Migratory.

Red-breasted Woodpecker, Picus ruber, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 179.

270. 15. Picus varius, Linn. Yellow-bellied Woodpecker.

Male with the crown of the head and throat bright carmine; a semicircular patch of black on the lower fore neck, and a semilunar band on the occiput; upper parts bluish-black, variegated with white and yellow, lower yellow, with the sides undulated with dusky; middle tail-feathers with the inner web white, obliquely banded with black. Female similar, but with the throat white, and the yellow of the lower parts less pure. Young without red on the head or throat, the former dusky, streaked with faint brown, the latter greyish-white, the upper parts as in the adult, but duller, the tail variegated with white, the lower parts dull yellowish-grey, undulated with dusky, the abdomen dull yellowish.

Male, 8¹/₂, 15.

Breeds from Maryland northward to the Saskatchewan. Rather rare in the interior in summer. Many spend the winter in the Southern and Western Districts.

Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, Picus varius, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 147.

Picus varius, Bonap. Syn. p. 45.

Picus (Dendrocopus) varius, Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 309.

Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 574.

Yellow-bellied Woodpecker, Picus varius. Aud. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 519; v. v. p. 537.

** Hind toe wanting. Genus Apternus of authors.

271. 16. Picus arcticus, Swains. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker.

Plate CXXXII. Male and Female.

Three-toed, with the upper parts glossy bluish-black, the lower white, the sides and lower wing-coverts transversely barred with black; tufts of bristly feathers black; crown of the head saffron-yellow; a white line from behind the eye, a band of the same from the base of the upper mandible to beneath the ear-coverts, succeeded by a black band; inner webs of all the quills and outer webs of the primaries spotted with white, there being seven spots on the outer, and five on the inner webs of the three longest; four middle tail-feathers black, the next with an oblique band of white, the rest black only at the base, except the outermost, of which nearly all the inner web is of that colour. Female without yellow on the head.

Male, 10¹/₂, 16.

From the northern parts of New York to the Fur Countries, as well as along the eastern declivities of the Rocky Mountains. Rather common. Partially migratory.

Picus tridactylus, Bonap. Syn. p. 46.

Northern Three-toed Woodpecker, Picus tridactylus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 14.

Picus (apternus) arcticus, Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 313.

Northern Three-toed Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 578.

Three-toed Woodpecker, Picus tridactylus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 198.

272. 17. Picus hirsutus, Vieill. Banded Three-toed Woodpecker.

Plate CCCCXVII. Fig. 3. Male. Fig. 4. Female.

Three-toed, with the upper parts deep glossy-black, the head with blue reflections, the back and wings tinged with brown; tufts over nostrils dull yellow; anterior part of head pale yellow, spotted with white; a band of white, with small dusky lines, from the angle of the mouth to the occiput; the back transversely banded with white; inner webs of all the quills and outer webs of the primaries spotted with white, there being seven spots on the outer, and five on the inner, webs of the three longest quills; four middle tail-feathers black, the next white at the end, the rest white, unless at the base, but the outermost banded with black. Female with the head black, streaked with white.

Male, 9; wing, 4⁵/₁₂.

From Lake Superior to the Arctic Sea. Abundant. Resident.

Picus hirsutus, Vieill. Ois. de l'Amer. v. ii. p. 124.

Picus (Apternus) tridactylus, Common Three-toed Woodpecker, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 311.

Common Three-toed Woodpecker, Picus hirsutus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 184.

*** Bill straight, with the angles obsolete, and the upper outline somewhat arched.

273. 18. Picus Carolinus, Linn. Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Plate CCCCXV. Fig. 3. Male. Fig. 4. Female.

Male with the upper part of the head and hind neck bright carmine; the back and scapulars transversely banded with black and white; the rump and tail-coverts with the white predominating; primaries black, with a band of white; tail black, with the inner webs of the middle, and both webs of the outer barred with white; lower parts yellowish-white, abdomen red; lower wing and tail-coverts white, spotted with dusky. Female similar, but with the top of the head ash-grey and with less red on the abdomen.

Male, 7³/₄, 15³/₄. Female, 8, 14¹/₂.

Breeds from Kentucky in the West, and from Maryland to Nova Scotia and Canada. Abundant in winter in all the Southern States, from Carolina to Texas, and especially in the Floridas.

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Picus carolinus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 113.

Picus carolinus, Bonap. Syn. p. 45.

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 572.

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Picus carolinus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 169.

274. 19. Picus erythrocephalus, Linn. Red-headed Woodpecker.

Plate XXVII. Male and Female.

Head and neck bright crimson, that colour descending on the fore neck, and margined with a semilunar band of black; back wings and tail glossy bluish-black; inner secondaries, rump, and lower parts, pure white. Young with the head and neck brownish-grey, streaked with dusky; feathers of back and wing-coverts dusky, edged with grey; secondary quills yellowish-white barred with black; lower parts greyish-white, the sides streaked with dusky.

Male, 9, 17. Female, 8¹/₂.

Breeds from Texas to Nova Scotia, and throughout the interior to the head waters of the Missouri; thence to Lake Huron. Extremely common. Great numbers spend the winter in Louisiana.

Red-headed Woodpecker, Picus erythrocephalus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 142.

Picus erythrocephalus, Bonap. Syn. p. 45.

Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Red-headed Woodpecker, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 316.

Red-headed Woodpecker, Picus erythrocephalus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 141; v. v. p. 536.

275. 20. Picus torquatus, Wils. Lewis's Woodpecker.

Plate CCCCXVI. Fig. 7. Male. Fig. 8. Female.

Upper parts black, highly glossed with dark green; a band across the forehead, the chin, and a broad patch on the side of the head, surrounding the eye, deep carmine, or blood-red; beyond this, the throat and part of the sides of the neck black; a band of dull white across the hind neck, continuous anteriorly with a large patch of yellowish-white, occupying the fore neck and part of the breast; the rest of the breast and the sides bright red; lower wing-coverts, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts black. Young with the red on the head scarcely apparent, that on the lower parts mixed with greyish-white, the fore part of the neck dull grey, and the white ring on the hind neck wanting; many of the feathers there with one or two white spots near the end.

Male, 11, wing, 7²/₁₂.

Rocky Mountains, and Columbia River. Abundant. Migratory.

Lewis's Woodpecker, Picus torquatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 31.

Picus torquatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 46.

Lewis's Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 577.

Lewis's Woodpecker, Picus torquatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 176.

**** Bill comparatively slender, slightly arched, acute, with the lateral angles obsolete. Genus Colaptes of authors.

276. 21. Picus auratus, Linn. Golden-winged Woodpecker.—Flicker. Tucker. High-holder.

Plate XXXVII. Male and Female.

Male with the upper part of the head and neck ash-grey; a transverse band of carmine on the hind neck; back, scapulars, and secondaries light greenish-brown, transversely spotted with black, rump white; tail-coverts white, with black markings; primaries and tail-feathers blackish-brown, the shafts yellow; sides of the head and fore neck light pale purplish-red, inclining to lilac; a black streak on each side of the throat, and a semilunar patch of the same on the fore part of the breast; lower parts reddish-white, tinged with yellow, and spotted with black; lower wing-coverts and inner edges of quills clear buff, lower surface of quills and tail-feathers yellow, the latter black toward the end. Female similar, but without the black bands on the throat.

Male, 12¹/₂, 16.

Breeds from Texas to Nova Scotia, and the Fur Countries. Generally distributed in the United States. Eastern bases of Rocky Mountains. Extremely common. Resident in the Southern States.

Gold-winged Woodpecker, Picus auratus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 45.

Picus auratus, Bonap. Syn. p. 44.

Colaptes auratus, Golden-shafted Woodpecker, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 314.

Flicker or Golden-winged Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 561.

Golden-winged Woodpecker, Picus auratus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 191; v. v. p. 540.

277. 22. Picus Mexicanus, Swains. Red-shafted Woodpecker.

Plate CCCCXVI. Fig. 5. Male. Fig. 6. Female.

Male with the upper part of the head and hind neck light greyish-brown; forehead and a band over the eye dull red; sides and fore part of neck ash-grey, with an oblong patch of bright carmine on each side of the throat; back, scapulars, and secondaries light reddish-brown, transversely spotted with black; rump white; upper tail-coverts black, barred with white; primaries blackish-brown, tail-feathers black, their shafts vermilion; lower parts reddish-white, spotted with black, of which there is a semilunar patch on the fore part of the breast; lower wing-coverts, and inner webs of quills of roseate tints; lower surface of quills and tail-feathers orange-red, inclining to vermilion, the tail black toward the end.

Male, 13¹/₂, wing, 6¹⁰/₁₂. Female, 13.

Rocky Mountains, Columbia River, and northward to the Saskatchewan. Abundant. Migratory.

Colaptes mexicanus, Swains. Synop. Birds of Mex. Phil. Mag. N. 84.

Colaptes mexicanus, Red-shafted Woodpecker, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 315.

Red-shafted Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 603.

Red-shafted Woodpecker, Picus mexicanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 314.

FAMILY XXVII. CUCULINÆ. CUCKOOS.

Bill long or of moderate length, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end, straight or somewhat arched; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex or arched, the ridge indistinct, the sides convex, the edges arched, sharp, without notch, the tip decurved; lower mandible with the angle rather short, the dorsal line straight or decurved, the ridge thin, the sides erect or convex, the tip slightly decurved, acute. Nostrils basal, oblong, generally marginate. Head of moderate size; neck of ordinary length; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length; tarsus with broad scutella; toes long, slender, flat beneath, outer directed outwards or backwards. Claws long or of moderate length, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage blended; wings generally long, with the first quill short, the third and fourth longest. Tail long, of ten feathers; upper mandible very narrow beneath, with three longitudinal ridges; tongue slender, emarginate, and papillate at the base, the tip horny, thin, lacerated, and slit; œsophagus rather wide, without dilatation; stomach large, round, with the muscular coat very thin, the epithelium soft, rugous; intestine of moderate length and width; cœca long, oblong, narrowed at the base. Trachea simple, with a single very slender pair of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. COCCYZUS, Vieill. AMERICAN CUCKOO.

Bill of moderate length, rather slender, somewhat arched, much compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line arched, the ridge rounded, the sides erect toward the end, the edges thin, direct, the tip narrow, decurved; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, rather wider, the dorsal line decurved toward the end, the sides nearly erect, the edges decurved, the tip narrow; the nostrils small, oblong, operculate. Eyelids bare, except at the margin. Head rather small; neck of moderate length; body slender. Feet rather short; tarsus compressed, rather stout, with seven very broad scutella; toes slender, compressed, anterior united at the base, first small. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage soft and blended, somewhat compact on the back. Wings of moderate length, with the first quill very short, the third and fourth longest. Tail very long, cuneate or graduated.

278. 1. Coccyzus Americanus, Linn. Yellow-billed American Cuckoo.—Rain Crow. Cow-bird.

Plate II. Male and Female.

Bill brownish-black above, with the margin of the upper, and nearly the whole of the lower mandible yellow; margin of the eye yellow; upper parts light greenish-brown, with a tinge of grey on the head; lower parts silvery white; quills with the inner webs brownish-orange; middle tail-feathers like the back, glossed with green, the rest brownish-black, all tipped with white, that colour gradually enlarging to the outer, which, besides, has nearly the whole outer web white.

Male, 12¹/₂, 16. Female, 11³/₄, 15¹/₂.

Breeds from Texas to Nova Scotia, and throughout the interior, to the eastern bar of the Rocky Mountains. Common. Many spend the winter in the Floridas.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Cuculus carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 13.

Coccyzus americanus, Bonap. Syn. p. 42.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 551.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 18; v. v. p. 520.

279. 2. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus, Wils. Black-billed American Cuckoo.—Rain-Crow. Cuckoo-Bird.

Plate XXXII. Male and Female.

Bill black; margin of the eye blue, before and behind bright red; upper parts light greenish-brown; lower parts silvery-white, the breast and sides faintly tinged with yellow; quills with the inner webs pale buff toward the base; tail-feathers like the back, tipped with white.

Male, 11¹/₂, 15.

From Texas to Nova Scotia, and in the interior to Kentucky. Rather common. Migratory.

Black-billed Cuckoo, Cuculus erythrophthalmus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 15.

Coccyzus erythrophthalmus, Bonap. Syn. p. 42.

St. Domingo Cuckoo, Coccyzus dominicus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 556.

Black-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythrophthalmus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 170; v. v. p. 523.

280. 3. Coccyzus Seniculus, Lath. Mangrove American Cuckoo.

Plate CLXIX. Male.

Upper mandible, and the tip and edges of the lower black, the rest yellow; upper parts light greenish-brown, with a tinge of grey on the head; lower parts brownish-orange; inner webs of quills uniform with the rest; middle tail-feathers like the back, the rest brownish-black, tipped with white, that colour gradually enlarging to the outer.

Male, 12, 15.

Florida Keys. Common. Migratory.

Mangrove Cuckoo, Coccyzus Seniculus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 558.

Mangrove Cuckoo, Coccyzus Seniculus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 390.

FAMILY XXVIII. PSITTACINÆ. PARROTS.

Bill short, bulging, very strong, deeper than broad, convex above and below; upper mandible cerate at the base, its outline decurved, the sides convex, the edges sharp, with an angular process, the tip trigonal, decurved, elongated, acute; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the tip thin-edged, rounded, or abrupt. Nostrils basal, round, open, in the cere. Head very large; neck of moderate length; body compact. Feet short and robust; tarsus short, scaly; toes stout, the outer directed backwards, the third and fourth coherent at the base. Claws stout, curved, acute. Plumage generally blended, but firm. Wings and tail various. Tongue short, fleshy, rounded, or emarginate; œsophagus wide, with a large crop; stomach small, muscular; intestine of moderate length; cœca small; cloaca globular.

GENUS I. CENTURUS, Kuhl. PARRAKEET.

Bill short, very strong, bulging; upper mandible with the dorsal line decurved, the sides convex, the edges ascending at the base, then direct, with a deep notch, the tip decurved, acute; lower mandible very deep at the base, with the dorsal line convex and ascending, the tip sharp-edged and truncate. The nostrils basal, round. Feet short, stout; tarsus very short; toes of moderate length, stout; claws strong, curved, acute. Plumage blended, compact on the wings, which are long and pointed, with the second quill longest. Tail long, cuneate.

281. 1. Centurus Carolinensis, Linn. Carolina Parrakeet.

Plate XXVI. Male, Female, and Young.

Fore part of the head and cheeks bright carmine, that colour extending over and behind the eyes, the rest of the head and neck pure bright yellow; upper parts emerald-green, with light blue reflections, lower parts lighter; edge of wing yellow, primary coverts deep bluish-green, secondary coverts yellowish-green; quills with the inner webs dusky, the outer yellow at the base, blue toward the end; tail green; tibial feathers yellow, the lowest bright red. Young with the head green.

Male, 14, 22.

South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and up the Mississippi to Kentucky. Abundant. Resident.

Psittacus carolinensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 141.

Carolina Parrot, Psittacus carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 89.

Psittacus carolinensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 41.

Carolina Parrot, Psittacus carolinensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 545.

Carolina Parrot, Psittacus carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 135.

FAMILY XXIX. COLUMBINÆ. PIGEONS.

Bill short, soft for half its length, horny toward the end; upper mandible with a tumid fleshy covering at the base, its dorsal line straight, toward the end convex and deflected, the tip narrow, but obtuse; lower mandible at its base wider than the upper, its sides elastic and slender, the angle long and obtuse, the dorsal line short and convex, the tip obtuse. Nostrils linear in the lower and fore part of the nasal membrane. Head small, oblong; neck of moderate length; body rather full. Feet short; tarsus partially feathered, scutellate, or scaly; toes four, on the same level, broad beneath, marginate; the first short, the lateral nearly equal, all scutellate above. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, rather blunt. Plumage generally compact, the feathers with thick spongy shaft, and destitute of plumule. Wings and tail various. Tongue rather broad at the base, toward the end narrow, horny, induplicate, pointed; œsophagus very wide, enlarged into an enormous crop; stomach a very large and strong gizzard, placed obliquely, its lateral muscles exceedingly thick, the lower prominent, the tendons very large, the epithelium dense, with longitudinal broad rugæ, and two opposite grinding surfaces; intestine long, of moderate width; cœca very small; cloaca oblong. Trachea simple, flattened, with a single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest flat, rudely constructed. Eggs two, elliptical, white.

GENUS I. COLUMBA, Linn. DOVE.

Bill straight, rather short, slender, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight at the base, convex toward the end, the nostrils linear, oblique, covered with a fleshy bare membrane, the edges sharp toward the end, with a distinct notch, the tip narrow, sharp-edged, rounded; lower mandible with the angle long and pointed, the sides erect, the base sloping outwards toward the end, the edges sharp, the tip narrow, but blunt. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body full. Feet short, strong; tarsus very short, roundish, with a single row of scutella above, and two anterior rows of large hexagonal scales; toes beneath rather slender, broad and flat beneath, marginate, with large scutella; hind toe smallest, lateral about equal. Claws of moderate size, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage rather compact above, blended beneath; wings long, pointed, the second and third quills longest. Tail of moderate length, rounded, of twelve broad rounded feathers.

282. 1. Columba fasciata, Say. Band-tailed Dove.

Plate CCCLXVII. Male and Female.

Wings long, the second quill longest, the first with the outer web narrower at the base than beyond the middle; tail of moderate length, rounded. Head, fore neck, and breast, light reddish-purple, that colour fading on the abdomen and lower tail-coverts into whitish; a narrow half-ring of white on the hind neck, the lower part of which is of a metallic greenish-brown tint; upper parts greyish-blue, tinted with brown; rump and sides of the body blue; quills brownish-black, very narrowly margined with brownish-white; tail greyish-blue at the base, much paler, and tinged with yellow toward the end, these colours being separated at the distance of two inches from the tip by a band of black. Female with the black band on the tail less decided, the middle feathers being but slightly marked with it.

Male, 16, wing, 9. Female, 15¹/₂.

From the eastern spurs of the Rocky Mountains, and across them to the Columbia River. Common. Migratory.

Columba fasciata. Say, Long's Exped. v. ii. p. 10.

Columba fasciata, Bonap. Syn. p. 119.

Band-tailed Pigeon, Columba fasciata, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 77.

Band-tailed Pigeon, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 624.

Band-tailed Pigeon, Columba fasciata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 479.

283. 2. Columba leucocephala, Linn. White-headed Dove.

Plate CLXXVII. Male and Female.

Upper parts dusky greyish-blue, lower paler; quills and tail-feathers darker; upper part of head white, hind neck dark purplish-brown, lower part and sides green, changing gold-colour, each feather margined with deep black.

Male, 14¹/₄, 23¹/₂. Female, 14.

Florida Keys. Common during summer only.

Columba leucocephala, Bonap. Syn. p. 119.

White-headed Pigeon, Columba leucocephala, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 15.

White-crowned Pigeon, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 625.

White-headed Pigeon, Columba leucocephala, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 443; v. v. p. 557.

284. 3. Columba Zenaida, Bonap. Zenaida Dove.

Plate CLXII. Male and Female.

Wings of moderate length, with the second quill longest; tail rounded, upper parts light yellowish-brown; quills brownish-black, narrowly margined with whitish, seven of the secondaries broadly tipped with white, the inner secondaries and the coverts with a broad black spot on the inner web toward the end; middle tail-feathers like the back, the rest greyish-blue, with broad black band toward the end, the extremity bluish-white; lower parts light brownish-red, paler on the throat, and passing into greyish-blue on the sides; lower wing-coverts light blue; a small spot of deep blue immediately behind the eye, a large one of brilliant rich blue a little below, on the side of the neck; and a band of splendent purple over the back and sides of the neck.

Male, 11¹/₂, 18¹/₈. Female, 10¹/₂.

Florida Keys during summer only. Common.

Columba Zenaida, Bonap. Syn. p. 119.

Zenaida Dove, Columba Zenaida, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p.

Zenaida Dove, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 625.

Zenaida Dove, Columba Zenaida, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 354; v. v. p. 558.

285. 4. Columba montana, Linn. Key-West Dove.

Plate CLXVII. Male and Female.

Wings of moderate length, with the third quill longest, the outer webs of the outer five quills narrowed in the middle; tail rounded. Upper part brownish-red; upper part of head and hind neck shining with purplish and light green reflections; sides of the neck cream-coloured, changing to lilac, with green, blue, and purple tints behind; back and scapulars also splendent with purplish-red; a broad band from the lower mandible beneath the eye, and the throat white; fore neck and breast pale purple, the rest cream-coloured.

Male, 11³/₄, 17¹/₂.

Key West only during summer. Not rare.

Columba montana, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 281.

Key-West Pigeon, Columba montana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 382.

286. 5. Columba passerina, Linn. Passerine Dove.—Ground Dove.

Plate CLXXXII. Male, Female, and Young.

Wings of moderate length, with the third quill longest, the first having the outer web narrow at the base, the next four with a contraction toward the end; tail rounded. Male with the forehead, sides of the head, anterior and lateral parts of the neck, breast, and sides, light purplish-red, the central part of the neck-feathers dusky; hind head and neck pale blue, the feathers edged with dark grey; back brownish-grey; primaries and their coverts deep chestnut-red, margined externally, and tipped with dusky; secondary quills and their coverts pale grey, tinged with red; smaller inner secondaries, with their coverts and some of the smaller coverts, with oblong glossy blue spots; lower wing-coverts deep chestnut-red; tail-feathers, except the middle two, blue at the base, bluish-black toward the end. Female paler; the forehead and wing-coverts but slightly tinged with red, the hind neck less blue, and the spots on the wings of smaller extent, and more purple. Young resemble the female, with a tinge of yellow beneath.

Male, 6³/₄, 11. Female, 6¹/₄.

Throughout the Floridas and their Keys, as well as from Louisiana to North Carolina, including Alabama and Georgia. Pretty abundant. Resident.

Columba passerina, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 285.

Ground Dove, Columba passerina, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 15.

Columba passerina, Bonap. Syn. p. 120.

Ground Dove, Columba passerina, Aud. Amer. Ornith. v. ii. p. 471; v. v. p. 558.

GENUS II. STARNÆNAS, Bonap. GROUND-DOVE.

Bill of moderate length, slender, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with a tumid fleshy covering at the base, the tip convex, declinate, obtuse. Nostrils oblique, linear. Head small, compressed; neck of moderate length; body full, robust. Legs stout; tarsus longer than the hind toe, covered anteriorly and laterally with subhexagonal scales; toes of moderate length. Claws rather small, arched, compressed, obtuse. Plumage compact. Wings short, rounded; third, fourth, and fifth quills longest, and almost equal; second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, cut out on the outer web. Tail of moderate length, slightly rounded, of twelve broad, rounded feathers. Tongue and digestive organs as in the preceding genus.

287. 1. Starnænas cyanocephala, Linn. Blue-headed Ground-Dove.

Plate CLXXII. Male and Female.

Upper parts rich chocolate, slightly tinged with olive; lower parts brownish-red, anteriorly tinged with purplish-red, lighter on the middle of the breast, the sides and lower tail-coverts approaching to the colour of the back; upper part of head bright blue, encircled by a band of deep black, broader on the occiput, and very narrow in front; a band of white, under the eye, meeting its fellow on the chin; a broad patch of black on the fore neck, margined with white beneath, and on the sides having a patch of light blue.

Male, 12¹/₄, 17¹/₂.

Accidental on the southernmost Florida Keys in summer only.

Columba cyanocephala, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 282.

Blue-headed Pigeon, Columba cyanocephala, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 411; v. v. p. 557.

GENUS III. ECTOPISTES, Swains. LONG-TAILED-DOVE.

Bill straight, of ordinary length, rather slender, broader than high at the base, with a tumid fleshy covering, compressed toward the end. Head small, oblong; neck of moderate length; body rather slender. Feet short; tarsus as short as the hind toe and claw, anteriorly scutellate; outer toe slightly shorter than inner; claws rather short, stout, arched, obtuse. Plumage compact above; blended, but firm beneath. Wings long; first and second quills longest, and about equal. Tail long, cuneate, pointed. Digestive organs as in the preceding genus.

288. 1. Ectopistes migratoria, Linn. Wandering Long-tailed-Dove.—Passenger Pigeon.

Plate LXII. Male and Female.

Twelve tail-feathers. Male with the upper part and sides of the head light blue; throat, fore neck, and breast, light brownish-red, sides and lower wing-coverts light blue, abdomen and lower tail-coverts white; upper parts greyish-blue; lower part of neck behind and along the sides changing to gold, emerald-green, and rich crimson; some of the wing-coverts with a black spot; quills and larger coverts blackish-brown; primaries edged with blue at the base, with reddish-white toward the end; middle tail-feathers bluish-black, the rest pale blue at the base, with a patch of red and a band of black on the inner web, white in the rest of their extent. Female with the tints much duller, the upper parts inclining to yellowish-brown, the dark spots on the wings more numerous, the lower parts pale greyish, anteriorly tinged with yellowish-brown. In a female examined, the anterior part of the tarsus has two rows of scales, while in a male that part is broadly scutellate.

Male, 16¹/₄, 25. Female, 15, 23.

Wanders continually in search of food throughout all parts of North America. Wonderfully abundant at times in particular districts.

Columba migratoria, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 285.

Passenger Pigeon, Columba migratoria, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 102.

Columba migratoria, Bonap. Syn. p. 120.

Columba (Ectopistes) migratoria, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 363.

Passenger Pigeon, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 629.

Passenger Pigeon, Columba migratoria, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 319; v. v. p. 561.

289. 2. Ectopistes Carolinensis, Linn. Carolina Long-tailed-Dove.

Plate XVII. Male and Female.

Fourteen tail-feathers. Male with the crown of the head and hind part of the neck light blue; fore neck and breast light purplish-red, sides and lower wing-coverts light blue, abdomen and lower tail-coverts pale yellow; upper parts light yellowish-brown; lower part of neck behind and along the sides changing to gold and purplish-red; some of the wing-coverts with a black spot; quills and larger coverts greyish-brown, inclining to greyish-blue at the base, and very narrowly edged with whitish; middle tail-feathers like the back, the rest blue at the base, bluish-white toward the end, with a black band intervening between the two colours. Female smaller, with the tints duller, the upper part of the head scarcely tinged with blue.

Male, 12, 17. Female, 11, 15¹/₂.

Breeds from Texas to Massachusetts, and throughout the interior to the eastern bases of the Rocky Mountains, and again on the Columbia River. Common. Resident in all the Southern Districts.

Columba carolinensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 286.

Carolina Pigeon or Turtle-Dove, Columba carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 91.

Columba carolinensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 119.

Carolina Pigeon or Turtle-Dove, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 626.

Carolina Turtle-Dove, Columba carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 91; v. v. p. 555.

FAMILY XXX. PAVONINÆ. PAVONINE BIRDS.

Bill rather short, moderately stout, broader than high at the base, somewhat compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its extremity arched, thin-edged, and obtuse; lower narrowed and blunt. Head partially denuded, rather small, oblong; neck long; body very large. Feet stout, rather long; tarsus anteriorly scutellate; hind toe elevated, anterior toes webbed at the base. Claws rather denuded, obtuse. Plumage full, the feathers with a very large plumule and short tube; those of the hind part of the back much developed. Wings of moderate length, convex, rounded. Tail very large, of more than twelve feathers. Tongue triangular, pointed; œsophagus dilated into an enormous crop; stomach a very powerful gizzard, roundish, or transversely elliptical, with very large muscles, and dense epithelium, having two concave grinding surfaces; intestines long, and rather wide; cœca very large, oblong, internally with elevated reticulated ridges. Trachea cylindrical, without inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, rudely constructed. Eggs numerous. Young covered with stiffish down.

GENUS I. MELEAGRIS, Linn. TURKEY.

Bill rather short, moderately stout, nearly straight, broader than high at the base, somewhat compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping and straight, toward the end decurved, nasal membrane large and bare, ridge and sides rounded, edges sharp, without notch, tip thin-edged, rounded; lower mandible with the angle very long, and rather wide, the dorsal line slightly convex, the edges sharp toward the end, decurved, the tip thin-edged and obtuse. Nostrils linear, with a large horny operculum. Head bare, with a long fleshy wattle at the base of the bill; neck bare, carunculate, slightly feathered behind. Head small, oblong; neck rather long; body very full. Feet large and strong; tarsus rather long, stout, compressed, with two rows of scutella in front, and the same behind, where there is also a conical slightly recurved spur, about a third from the lower extremity; toes of moderate length, stout, scutella; first small and elevated; lateral about equal, third much longer; anterior webbed at the base. Claws of moderate length, stout, arched, somewhat compressed, obtuse. Plumage compact, glossy; feathers very broad and truncate; those of the rump elongated. Wings of moderate length, concave, much rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills longest; secondaries very long and broad. Tail rather long, very broad, much rounded, of fourteen or eighteen very broad, broadly rounded feathers. Œsophagus dilated into a very large crop; stomach transversely elliptical, extremely muscular; intestines long and wide; cœca very large, oblong.

290. 1. Meleagris Gallopavo, Linn. Common Turkey.

Plate I. Male. Plate VI. Female and Young.

Tail with eighteen feathers. Male with a long tuft of bristles pendent from the lower part of the neck in front; frontal wattle blue and red, skin of the neck and head of various tints of blue and purple, caruncles bright red, changing to blue, legs purplish-red; upper parts brownish-yellow, with metallic lustre, changing to deep purple, fire-red, and bronzed green, the truncated tips of the feathers margined with velvet-black; on the hind parts, the black bands much broader; upper tail-coverts deep chestnut, glossed; wing-coverts like the back, excepting the primary coverts, which, with the quills, are dusky, transversely banded with white, the inner minutely mottled with dusky, on a light brownish-red ground; tail-feathers chestnut-red, narrowly barred and minutely dotted with black, a subternal broad band of black, the tips plain chestnut; lower parts like the upper, the tuft of bristles black. Female considerably inferior in size, with the wattles much smaller, the tuft on the breast comparatively small, and only in old birds; the colours of the plumage duller, there being little of the refulgent hues of the male; the lower parts brownish-black. Young before being fledged, are pale brownish-yellow above, pale yellowish-grey beneath, the top of the head brighter, marked in the middle with a longitudinal pale brown band; the back and wings spotted with brownish-black, excepting the smaller wing-coverts, which are uniformly dull brown.

Male, 49, 68. Female, 37, 54.

Breeds from Texas to Massachusetts and Vermont. In the interior to the Missouri, and thence northward to Michigan. Common. Resident, though removing to considerable distances in autumn, in quest of food.

Meleagris Gallopavo, Bonap. Syn. p. 122.

Wild Turkey, Meleagris Gallopavo, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 79.

Wild Turkey, Meleagris Gallopavo, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 630.

Wild Turkey, Meleagris Gallopavo, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 1, 33; v. v. p. 559.

FAMILY XXXI. PERDICINÆ. PARTRIDGES.

Bill very short, stout, broader than high at the base, with the upper mandible convex, thin-edged, obtuse, the lower with the dorsal line convex, the tip rounded. Head small, oblong; neck of moderate length, or rather short; body very bulky. Feet rather of moderate length, stout; tarsus bare, anteriorly scutellate; hind toe rather small, third long, lateral nearly equal, all scutellate, anterior webbed at the base. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, obtuse. Plumage full and strong; feathers with the plumule much developed. Wings rather short, convex, rounded. Tail generally short and rounded, of more than twelve feathers. Tongue triangular, pointed; œsophagus with a very large crop; stomach a very strong muscular gizzard, with the lateral muscles highly developed, the epithelium dense, with two concave grinding surfaces; intestine long, and of moderate width; cœca very large, oblong, internally with reticulate ridges. Trachea without inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, rudely constructed. Eggs numerous. Young covered with stiffish down.

GENUS I. ORTYX, Steph. AMERICAN PARTRIDGE.

Bill very short, robust, rather obtuse; upper mandible with the outline decurved from the base, the ridge narrow at the base, on account of the breadth of the nasal membrane, somewhat distinct in its whole length, with the sides convex, the gape-line arched, the edges thin, without notch, the tip decurved, thin-edged, obtuse; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line slightly convex, the sides rounded, the edges involute, the tip rounded. Nostrils basal, linear, operculate, nearly concealed. Head of ordinary size, ovato-oblong; neck rather short; body full. Feet of moderate length; tarsus shorter than the middle toe, with two anterior series of large scales; first toe small and elevated; third very long, second shorter than third, scutellate, connected at the base by webs of a considerable extent. Claws rather stout, arched, compressed, rather acute. Plumage dense, rather compact; wings short, concave, rounded. Tail short, rounded, of twelve feathers. A bare space behind the eyes. Tongue triangular, fleshy; œsophagus with an ovate oblique crop on the fore part of the neck; stomach a very large and strong gizzard, broader than long, placed obliquely, with concave grinding surfaces; intestine long and wide; cœca large.

291. 1. Ortyx Virginiana, Linn. Common American Partridge.

Plate LXXVI. Male, Female, and Young.

Male with a short broad crest; the forehead, a broad band over the eye, and the throat, white; loral space, a band below the eye, and a broad semilunar band on the fore neck, black; upper part of the head, hind and lower part of the neck all round, brownish-red; upper parts variegated with chestnut-red, black, grey, and yellowish; lower yellowish-white, undulatingly barred with black, the sides streaked with red. Female similar, but without a black band on the fore neck, its place being merely spotted, and with the throat and a band over the eye brownish-yellow. Young with the feathers having a central yellowish line, the lower parts dull yellowish-brown, without black bands.

Male, 10, 15. Female, 9¹/₂, 14.

Breeds abundantly from Texas to Massachusetts; in the interior, high on the Missouri, and in all intermediate districts.

Quail or Partridge, Perdix virginiana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 21.

Perdix virginiana, Bonap. Syn. p. 124.

American Partridge or Quail, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 647.

Virginian Partridge, Perdix virginiana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 388; v. v. p. 564.

292. 2. Ortyx Californica, Lath. Californian Partridge.

Plate CCCCXIII. Fig. 10. Male and Female.

On the top of the head an elegant crest of six elongated, recurved, clavate feathers, of which the webs are deflected. Male with the forehead dull yellow, the crest black; upper part of head dark brown, margined with a band of white; throat deep black, margined with a semilunar band of white, curving up to the eyes; hind part and sides of neck light ash-grey, beautifully marked with black, each feather having a marginal band and central line of that colour; lower half of neck anteriorly, and a part of the breast, greyish-blue, the rest of the breast light yellowish, its central part chestnut, with semilunar black bands; sides olive-brown, each feather with a central white streak; the rest of the lower parts light yellowish-brown, faintly barred with dusky, the lower tail-coverts with a central dark brown streak; back and wings greyish-brown, tinged with olive, outer secondaries margined externally, inner internally, with light red; tail bluish-grey, edged with olivaceous. Female with the tuft shorter, the colours duller; the upper part of the head dull brown, throat and cheeks brownish-white, streaked with dusky; hind part and sides of neck greyish-brown, each feather with a medial and marginal band of black, as in the male, but fainter; lower part of neck and part of breast brownish-grey; the rest of the upper and lower parts as in the male.

Male, 9¹/₄, wing 4⁷/₁₂. Female, 9, wing 4⁷/₁₂.

Upper California. Abundant. Resident.

Californian Partridge, Perdix californica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 152.

293. 3. Ortyx plumifera, Gould. Plumed Partridge.

Plate CCCCXXII. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

On the top of the head two linear-lanceolate decurved feathers, having their webs deflected; upper part of head, hind neck, fore part of back, lower part of fore neck, and a part of the breast, greyish-blue; feathers along the base of the bill, and a band from the eye down the side of the neck, white; elongated feathers on the head black; throat deep chestnut, margined on each side with a black line; back and rump reddish-brown; quills and tail-feathers wood-brown, margined with reddish-brown; inner secondaries broadly margined internally with white; middle of breast chestnut, as are the upper hypochondrial feathers, which are margined on their inner web toward the end with a narrow black and a broad white band, the intervening space on the sides broadly banded with white, black, and chestnut. Female somewhat less, similar to the male, but less brightly coloured.

Male, 11, wing 5³/₄. Female, 10, wing 5¹/₂.

Columbia River, and Upper California. Rather rare. Migratory.

Plumed Partridge, Perdix plumifera, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 226.

294. 4. Ortyx neoxenus, Vigors. Welcome Partridge.

Plate CCCCXXIII. Fig. 3. Young.

Crest short, straight, directed backwards, of about half a dozen elongated feathers; upper parts olive-brown, a rufous streak behind the eye; wing-coverts dark brown, with light margins; quills dusky brown, some of them slightly marked on the edges with paler spots; tail dusky, with about eight waved irregular lines of pale brown; lower parts dark brown, copiously marked with roundish white spots.

Length 7¹/₂, wing 4³/₈.

California.

Welcome Quail, Ortyx neoxenus, Vig. Gard. and Menag. of Zool. Soc. v. ii. p. 311.

Welcome Partridge, Perdix neoxenus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 228.

FAMILY XXXII. TETRAONINÆ. GROUSE.

Bill short, stout, with the upper mandible convex, thin edged, without notches, its tip thin edged, obtuse, the lower mandible with the dorsal line slightly convex, the edges thin, the tip rounded. Head small, oblong; neck of moderate length; body very bulky. Feet short, stout; tarsus partially or entirely feathered; hind toe small, third long, lateral nearly equal, all scutellate, anterior webbed at the base. Claws moderate or long, arched, rather depressed, blunt. Plumage full and soft; feathers with the plumule much developed. Wings rather short, convex, rounded. Tail various, of more than twelve feathers. A bare coloured space on each side of the neck, usually concealed by the feathers; but in some species capable of being distended so as to protrude. A bare red membrane over the eye, more developed in the males. Tongue triangular, pointed; œsophagus with an enormous crop; stomach a very powerful gizzard, having the lateral muscles extremely developed, the epithelium dense, with two concave grinding surfaces; the intestine long and wide; cœca excessively elongated, cylindrical, with internal longitudinal ridges. Nest on the ground, rudely constructed. Eggs numerous, spotted. Young covered with stiffish down.

GENUS I. TETRAO, Linn. GROUSE.

Bill short, robust; upper mandible with the dorsal line decurved, the ridge convex, narrowed at the base, the sides convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the tip thin-edged and rounded; lower mandible with the angle long and wide, the dorsal line convex, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip rounded. Nostrils roundish, in the fore part of the large and feathered nasal depression. Head small, ovate; neck of ordinary length; body large and full. Feet stout, of moderate length; tarsus short, feathered, at the lower part sometimes bare, and scutellate; toes bare, scutellate, with a marginal fringe of pectinate scales. Claws rather large, arched, compressed, obtuse. Plumage full, soft, rather blended. Wings rather short, convex, much rounded, the third and fourth quills longest. Tail rounded, of more than twelve feathers.

* Tarsus partially bare.

295. 1. Tetrao Umbellus, Linn. Ruffed Grouse.—Partridge Pheasant.

Plate XLI. Male and Female.

Male with the feathers of the head narrow and elongated into a decurved tuft; an erectile ruff of broad, abrupt, glossy feathers, in two tufts; tail of eighteen feathers, rounded. Upper part of head and hind part of neck bright yellowish-red, variegated with dusky; back chestnut, marked with oblong white spots, margined with black; quills brown, their outer webs pale yellowish-red, spotted with dusky; upper tail-coverts banded or spotted with black; tail reddish-yellow, narrowly barred and minutely mottled with black, and terminated by a broad band of the latter, between two narrow bands of greyish-white; a yellowish-white band from the bill to the eye, beyond which it is prolonged; throat and fore neck light brownish-yellow; lower ruff-feathers of the same colour, barred with reddish-brown, upper black, glossed with blue; lower parts yellowish-white, with broad transverse spots of dusky or brown. Female with the crest and ruff less developed, the latter of a duller black; the tints of the plumage duller than in the male. In the northern parts the plumage is generally less red, but otherwise similar.

Male, 18, 24.

Common from Maryland to Labrador, and in the interior, from the mountainous districts to Canada and the Saskatchewan. Columbia River. Resident.

Ruffed Grouse, Tetrao umbellus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 46.

Tetrao umbellus, Bonap. Syn. p. 126.

Tetrao umbellus, Ruffed Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 342.

Ruffed Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 657.

Ruffed Grouse, Tetrao Umbellus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 211; v. v. p. 560.

** Tarsus feathered to the toes. Tail rather long, broad, rounded.

296. 2. Tetrao Canadensis, Linn. Canada Grouse.—Spotted Grouse.

Plate CLXXVI. Male and Female.

Tail of sixteen feathers, rounded. Male with the upper parts transversely banded with brownish-black and light grey; wings variegated with dusky and greyish-yellow; quills brown, the outer webs of the primaries mottled with yellowish; tail blackish-brown, tipped with a band of reddish-yellow; lower parts black; the feathers on the throat with a white spot near the end; a band of white spots behind the eye; on the breast, the feathers with a broad subterminal spot; and the lower tail-coverts largely tipped with white. Female with the upper parts as in the male, but more broadly barred; head, sides of neck, fore neck, and anterior part of breast, yellowish-red, barred with brownish-black; lower parts greyish-black, barred with reddish-white; tail minutely mottled, and tipped with reddish-brown.

Male, 15³/₄, 21³/₄. Female, 15¹/₂, 21.

Plentiful from the northern parts of New York to Labrador, as well as from Canada to the Arctic Sea. Columbia River. Partially migratory in winter.

Spotted Grouse, Tetrao canadensis, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iii. pl. 20.

Tetrao canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 127.

Tetrao canadensis, Spotted Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 346.

Tetrao Franklinii, Franklin's Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 348.

Spotted Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 667.

Spotted or Canada Grouse, Tetrao canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 437; v. v. p. 563.

297. 3. Tetrao obscurus, Say. Dusky Grouse.

Plate CCCLXI. Male and Female.

A slender crest of narrow feathers; tail of twenty feathers; rounded. Male with the upper parts blackish-brown, the wings lighter; elongated feathers on the head greyish-brown; hind neck minutely undulated with bluish-grey; scapulars, inner secondaries, and smaller wing-coverts also minutely undulated with grey and brownish-red; rump and upper tail-coverts and quills clove-brown, secondaries bordered and tipped with yellowish-grey, primaries mottled with grey on their outer webs, tail black; sides of head, fore part and sides of neck, and fore part of breast, greyish-black; loral space and throat barred with white; lower parts generally blackish-grey, the feathers of the sides with a median streak and terminal patch of white, and more or less barred with dusky, as are the lower tail-coverts; axillary feathers and inner wing-coverts white; tarsal feathers brownish-grey. Female considerably smaller, with the upper parts greyish-brown, barred with dusky, and minutely undulated; the fore neck banded with brown and pale sienna, the rest of the lower parts as in the male, but paler.

Male, 22, wing 9¹/₂. Female, 19¹/₂, wing 9.

From the eastern spurs of the Rocky Mountains, to the Columbia River, and northward to Hudson's Bay. Abundant. Resident.

Tetrao obscurus, Say, Long's Exped.

Tetrao obscurus, Bonap. Syn. p. 127.

Dusky Grouse, Tetrao obscurus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iii. pl. 18.

Tetrao obscurus, Dusky Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 344.

Dusky Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 666.

Dusky Grouse, Tetrao obscurus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 446.

*** Tail very short, transversely arched, much rounded.

298. 4. Tetrao Cupido, Linn. Pinnated Grouse.

Feathers of the crown elongated; two tufts of lanceolate elongated feathers on the sides of the neck, under which is an oblong bare orange-coloured space on either side, capable of being inflated; tail very short, much rounded, of eighteen feathers. Male with the upper parts blackish-brown, transversely marked with broad undulating bands of light yellowish-red; wing-coverts and secondaries of a lighter brown, tinged with grey, and barred with pale red: primary quills greyish-brown, with black shafts, and spots of pale reddish on the outer webs, tail dark brown, narrowly tipped with dull white, the two middle feathers mottled with brownish-red; loral space, a band from the lower mandible over the cheek, and the throat, pale yellowish-red; a band of blackish-brown under the eye; extending to the ear-coverts, and another on the side of the throat; cervical tufts, with the feathers dark brown on the outer webs, pale yellowish-red and margined with dusky on the inner; lower parts greyish-white, tinged with yellow on the sides, with large transverse curved bands of greyish-brown; lower tail-coverts arranged in three series, dusky at the base, white at the end; tibial and tarsal feathers grey, obscurely and minutely banded with yellowish-brown. Female considerably smaller, without the crest, cervical tufts, or air-bags, but otherwise similar to the male.

Male, 18, 27¹/₂.

Abundant from Texas throughout all the western prairies, to very high up the Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, and Ohio. Almost extirpated in the Middle and Eastern Districts. Resident.

Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao Cupido, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 104.

Tetrao Cupido, Bonap. Syn. p. 126.

Pinnated Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 662.

Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao Cupido, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 490; v. v. p. 559.

**** Toes partially feathered. Tail graduated.

299. 5. Tetrao Urophasianus, Bonap. Pheasant-tailed Grouse.—Cock of the Plains.

Plate CCCLXXI. Male and Female.

Male with bristle-feathers on the sides of the neck, on its lower part small, scale-like feathers; a large bare yellow space on each side, capable of being inflated; tail long, graduated, of twenty, stiffish, acuminate feathers. Upper parts light yellowish-brown, variegated with brownish-black, and yellowish-white; primary quills chocolate-brown, thin outer webs, and part of their inner margins mottled with yellowish-white; tail with about ten bands of yellowish-white on the outer webs, which are otherwise variegated like the back, the inner webs nearly plain brown; throat and fore part of neck whitish, longitudinally spotted with brownish-black; a narrow white band across the throat; sides of the neck, and fore part of breast pure white; sides variegated like the back; axillars and lower wing-coverts white; and part of breast and abdomen black; lower tail-coverts brownish-black, largely tipped with white; tibial and tarsal feathers brownish-grey, faintly barred with brown. Female much smaller, and differing in being destitute of the bare skin on the neck, the plumage entirely of ordinary texture, the tail less elongated, with the feathers less narrow; upper parts variegated as in the male, lower dull yellowish-grey, undulated and streaked with dusky; middle of breast brownish-black, lower tail-coverts tipped with white.

Male, 30, 36. Female, 22.

Rocky Mountains and Columbia River, northward. Once seen on the Missouri. Abundant. Partially migratory from high to low grounds in autumn and winter.

Tetrao urophasianus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iii. pl. 21.

Tetrao (Centrocercus) urophasianus. Cock of the Plains, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 358.

Cock of the Plains, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 666.

Cock of the Plains, Tetrao urophasianellus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 503.

300. 6. Tetrao Phasianellus, Linn. Sharp-tailed Grouse.

Plate CCCLXXXII. Male and Female.

A decurved crest of narrow feathers; a bare space on each side of the neck capable of being inflated; tail short, much graduated, of sixteen feathers, all of which are more or less concave, excepting the two middle ones along the inner edge, obliquely and abruptly terminated, the two middle projecting an inch beyond the next. Upper parts variegated with light yellowish-red, brownish-black, and white, the latter in terminal triangular, or guttiform spots on the scapulars and wing-coverts; quills greyish-brown, primaries with white spots on the outer web, secondaries tipped and barred with white; tail white, at the base variegated, the two middle feathers like the back; loral space, and a band behind the eye yellowish-white, a dusky streak under the eye; throat reddish-white, with dusky spots; fore parts and sides of neck barred with dusky and reddish-white; on the breast the dusky spots become first curved, and then arrow-shaped; and so continue narrowing on the hind part of the breast and part of the sides, of which the upper portion is barred; abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and axillars, white; tarsal feathers light brownish-grey, faintly barred with whitish. Female smaller, but similar to the male, with the tints duller.

Male, 17¹/₂, 23.

Missouri, Lat. 41°, to Slave Lake, Lat. 61°. Rocky Mountains. Abundant on the Saskatchewan Plains. Accidental in the northern parts of Illinois. Resident.

Tetrao Phasianellus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 37.

Tetrao Phasianellus, Bonap. Syn. p. 127.

Tetrao (Centrocercus) Phasianellus, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 361.

Sharp-tailed Grouse. Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 669.

Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tetrao Phasianellus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 569.

GENUS II. LAGOPUS. PTARMIGAN.

Bill short, robust; upper mandible with its dorsal outline decurved, the ridge indistinct and rounded, the sides convex, the edges overlapping, the tip declinate, thin-edged, rounded; lower mandible, with the angle of moderate length and rounded, the dorsal line convex, the sides rounded, the edges a little inclinate, the tip rounded; nasal sinuses large and covered with feathers, leaving the ridge narrow between them. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head small, ovate; neck rather long; body bulky. Feet rather short, stout; tarsus feathered, as are the toes, which have two or three terminal scutella; hind toe extremely short, lateral toes equal. Claws slightly arched, depressed, thin-edged, rounded. Plumage full and compact, the feathers rounded. Wings short, convex, the primaries strong, narrow, tapering, the third longest, the fourth and second little shorter. Tail short, nearly even, of more than twelve broad feathers.

301. 1. Lagopus albus, Gmel. Willow Ptarmigan.—Willow-Grouse.

Plate CXCI. Male, Female, and Young.

Bill very thick, convex, with a strong ridge on each side of the lower mandible; claws (when entire) elongated, arched with the sides sloping, edges thin and nearly parallel, the tip rounded; tail short, slightly rounded, of fourteen feathers, independently of the long incumbent coverts. Bill black, claws dusky at the base, yellowish-grey on the edges and tip. In winter, the plumage white, excepting the shafts of the primaries, which are brown, and the tail-feathers, which are black, narrowly tipped with white, and with the base of the same colour. In summer, the male with the head and neck bright chestnut, more or less variegated with dusky; the upper parts and sides having the feathers brownish-black, transversely barred with reddish-yellow, and narrowly tipped with white; the quills and larger coverts, with most of the smaller, middle of breast, abdomen, and feet, white; tail as in winter, the middle incumbent feather like the back. Female similar, with the markings larger, the breast and abdomen coloured like the sides, the head and neck without chestnut. Young, when in down, of a yellowish tint, variegated above with large streaks of dark brown, the top of the head with a longitudinal patch of brown, edged with black. When fledged, the young resemble the female.

Male, 17, 26¹/₂. Female, 16, 26.

In Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, during winter. Breeds plentifully in Newfoundland, Labrador, and the Fur Countries. Rocky Mountains.

Tetrao (Lagopus) saliceti, Willow Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 351.

Willow Grouse or Large Ptarmigan. Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 674.

Willow Grouse, Tetrao saliceti, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 528.

302. 2. Lagopus Americanus, Aud. American Ptarmigan.

Not figured.

Bill much narrower, with the ridge on each side of the lower mandible obsolete; claws (when entire) elongated, arched, with the sides sloping, the edges thin and nearly parallel, the tip round; tail short, even, of fourteen feathers, independently of the long incumbent coverts. In winter, the plumage white, excepting the shafts of the primaries, which are brown, and the tail-feathers, which are black, narrowly tipped with white; male with a black loral band, extending beyond the eye. In summer, the general colour of the upper parts, fore neck, and sides, reddish-yellow, finely undulated transversely with blackish-brown, and greyish-white; the bars on the head and neck larger; the two long incumbent tail-feathers similar to those of the back; the rest brownish-black, tipped with white; little white on the lower parts, and only in patches, some greyish-white undulations occasionally seen, tend to approximate the colouring to that of some specimens of Lagopus mutus of Scotland, but the prevailing tint is not grey, as in that species, but brownish-yellow. Young similar to the adult, with the bands larger; the fore part of the wings, the primaries, secondary coverts, and abdomen, white.

Male, 14³/₄, wing, 8¹/₄.

Melville Island. Churchill River.

Tetrao lagopus, Sabine, Richardson, &c.

Tetrao (Lagopus) mutus, Ptarmigan, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 350.

Common Ptarmigan, Tetrao mutus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 196.

303. 3. Lagopus rupestris, Gmel. Rock Ptarmigan.

Plate CCCLXVIII. Male and Female. Plate CCCCXVIII. Fig. 1.

Bill very short, thick, convex (stronger than that of L. americanus), with the ridges on the lower mandible faint; claws elongated, arched, with the sides sloping, the edges thin and nearly parallel, the tip narrowed, (broader than in L. albus). Tail short, slightly rounded, of fourteen feathers, independently of the long incumbent coverts. Bill black, claws dusky, with the edges and tip inclining to yellowish-grey. In winter, the plumage white, excepting the shafts of the primaries, which are brownish-black, and the tail-feathers, which are black, narrowly tipped with white, and with the base of the same colour. In summer, the plumage variegated with black, reddish-yellow, and white; the feathers being chiefly of the first colour, transversely and irregularly banded with reddish-yellow, and terminally margined with white; lower parts more broadly and regularly barred with brownish-black and light reddish-yellow; edge of wing, alula, primary coverts, nearly all the secondary coverts, primaries, and outer secondaries white, as are the lower surface of the wing, the axillars, and some of the feathers on the abdomen, as well as those on the feet, the latter tinged with yellowish; shafts of primaries brownish-black; tail as in winter, but with the lateral feather white on a great part of the outer web. Female similar, with the bands broader.

Male, 13¹/₂, wing, 7¹⁰/₁₂.

Breeds from Labrador to the Arctic Seas. Rocky Mountains. Abundant. Migratory.

Tetrao (Lagopus) rupestris, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 354.

Rock Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 610.

Rock Grouse, Tetrao rupestris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 483.

304. 4. Lagopus leucurus, Swains. White-tailed Ptarmigan.

Plate CCCCXVIII. Adult in winter.

Claws slightly arched, depressed, broad, thin-edged, rather pointed; tail rather short, slightly rounded, of fourteen feathers. Plumage in winter entirely pure white. In summer, the head and neck barred with blackish-brown and brownish-white; upper parts blackish-brown, barred with reddish-yellow; breast, belly, and sides pale reddish-yellow, broadly barred with blackish-brown; tail white.

Tetrao (Lagopus) leucurus, White-tailed Grouse, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii, p. 356.

White-tailed Grouse, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 612.

White-tailed Grouse, Tetrao leucurus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 200.

FAMILY XXXIII. RALLINÆ. RAILS.

Bill moderately stout, or slender, short or elongated, compressed, with the point narrow, but obtuse. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body large, much compressed. Feet large; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus stout, compressed, with very broad anterior scutella; toes very long, scutellate, marginate; hind toe rather short. Claws long, little arched, compressed, acute. Plumage blended, but stiffish. Wings short, convex, rounded, tail very short, rounded. Tongue slender, channelled above, tapering to a bristly point; œsophagus long, rather narrow; proventriculus bulbiform; stomach roundish, compressed, very muscular, with the lateral and inferior muscles prominent, the epithelium dense, with two flattish grinding surfaces; intestine long, of moderate width; cœca long, narrowed toward the base; cloaca globular. Trachea simple, flattened, with a pair of slender inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest bulky, and rudely constructed, on the ground, or supported by grass, or on trees. Eggs numerous, oblong. Young covered with stiffish black down.

GENUS I. GALLINULA, Briss. GALLINULE.

Bill as long as the head, nearly straight, stout, deep, compressed, tapering; upper mandible with a soft ovate or oblong tumid plate at the base, extending over the forehead, the dorsal line beyond this slightly declinate, toward the tip arcuate, the ridge gradually narrowed to the middle, then slightly enlarged, the sides nearly erect, the edges sharp, the notches obsolete, the tip rather obtuse; nasal sinus extending nearly to the middle; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending, nearly straight, the sides nearly erect, the tip narrow. Nostrils submedial, lateral, oblong, direct. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body large, much compressed. Feet large; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus stout, of moderate length, compressed, with very broad anterior scutella; hind toe rather small and slender; anterior toes very long, fourth longer than second, third considerably longer, all scutellate. Claws very long, slender, slightly arched, much compressed, tapering to a very acute point. Plumage blended, form and wings of moderate length, broad, convex, with the second and third quills longest; tail very short, much rounded, of twelve weak feathers; lower coverts almost as long.

305. 1. Gallinula Martinica, Linn. Purple Gallinule.

Plate CCCV. Male.

Frontal plate blue; bill carmine, tipped with yellow; head, fore part of neck, and breast, purplish-blue; abdomen and tibial feathers dusky; sides and lower wing-coverts green; lower tail-coverts white; upper parts olivaceous green; sides of neck, and outer part of wings greenish-blue.

Male, 13¹/₂, 21¹/₂.

Breeds and resides from Texas to South Carolina. Stragglers seen as far as Massachusetts. Up the Mississippi to Memphis. Rather common in Louisiana and Florida.

Purple Gallinule, Gallinula Porphyrio, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 67.

Gallinula martinica, Bonap. Syn. p. 336.

Purple Gallinule, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 221.

Purple Gallinule, Gallinula martinica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 37.

306. 2. Gallinula Chloropus, Linn. Common Gallinule.

Plate CCXLIV.

Frontal plate, eyes, ring on tibiæ, and bill carmine, the latter tipped with yellow; head, neck, and lower parts, greyish-black; abdomen greyish-yellow; lower tail-coverts and some streaks on the sides, with the edge of the wing, and the outer web of the first quill white; upper parts brownish-olive; quills and tail dusky. Female similar, with the frontal plate small. Young similar, but with the bill dull green, and the breast faintly barred with whitish.

Male, 14, 22.

From Texas to South Carolina, common, and resident. Stragglers are seen as far as Massachusetts. Abundant in Louisiana and Florida. Up the Mississippi to Natchez. Fresh water.

Gallinula galeata, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 128.

Florida Gallinule, Gallinula galeata, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 223.

Common Gallinule, Gallinula Chloropus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 330.

GENUS II. FULICA, Linn. COOT.

Bill as long as the head, nearly straight, stout, deep, compressed, tapering; upper mandible with a soft ovate or oblong tumid plate at the base, extending over the forehead, the dorsal line declinate, toward the tip arcuate, the ridge narrowed to the middle, then slightly enlarged, the sides nearly erect, the edges sharp, the notches obsolete, the tip rather obtuse; nasal sinus extending nearly to the middle; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending, nearly straight, the sides nearly erect, the tip narrow. Nostrils submedial, lateral, linear, direct. Head small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length, slender; body full, compressed. Feet large; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus stout, of moderate length, compressed, with very broad anterior scutella; hind toe rather small and slender; anterior toes very long, their margins dilated into flat lobes, the hind toe with a single inferior lobe. Claws of moderate length, slightly arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage, blended, soft. Wings short, broad, convex, with the second quill longest. Tail very short, much rounded, of twelve weak feathers; lower coverts nearly as long. Gizzard extremely muscular; cœca very long, being a fifth part of the length of the intestine.

307. 1. Fulica Americana, Gmel. American Coot.—Mud-Hen.

Plate CCXXXIX.

Frontal plate and bill white, the latter dusky toward the end; head and neck greyish-black, upper parts deep bluish-grey, with an olivaceous tinge on the scapulars and inner secondaries; quills greyish-brown, tail brownish-black; breast and abdomen dull bluish-grey, lighter behind; edge of wing, outer margin of first quill, tips of outer secondaries, and lower tail-coverts white. Female of a lighter tint, with the frontal plate smaller.

Male, 13¹⁰/₁₂, 25.

From Texas to the northern parts of Maine. Exceedingly abundant in Louisiana and the Floridas, during winter and spring, where some remain to breed. The greater number breed in Maine and New Brunswick, as well as along the Great Lakes. Rare in the Middle Atlantic districts. Columbia River.

Common Coot, Fulica atra, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 61.

Fulica americana, Bonap. Syn. p. 338.

Cinereous Coot, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 229.

American Coot, Fulica americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 291; v. v. p. 568.

GENUS III. ORTYGOMETRA, Leach. CRAKE-GALLINULE.

Bill shorter than the head, rather stout, deep, compressed, tapering; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, being slightly convex toward the end, the ridge flattish for a short space at the base, very slightly extended on the forehead, narrow in the rest of its extent, the sides nearly erect, the edges sharp, with a slight sinus close to the rather obtuse tip; nasal groove broad and extending to two-thirds; lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending, nearly straight, the sides erect, the tip narrowed. Nostrils linear, lateral, submedial. Head rather small, oblong, compressed; neck of moderate length; body rather slender, much compressed. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tibia bare below; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, with broad anterior scutella; hind toe short and slender, anterior toes very long, compressed, scutella, the outer slightly longer than the inner. Claws of moderate length, slender, extremely compressed, tapering to a fine point. Plumage rather stiff, but blended; feathers of the forehead with the shaft enlarged. Wings short and broad, somewhat convex, the second quill longest. Tail extremely short, much rounded, of twelve weak feathers. Digestive organs as in Gallinula.

308. 1. Ortygometra Carolinus, Linn. Carolina Crake-Gallinule.—Sora Rail.

Plate CCXXXIII. Male, Female, and Young.

Upper parts olive-brown, the feathers brownish-black in the centre, those on the back with two marginal lines of white; a broad band surrounding the base of the bill, the central part of the crown, the chin, and the middle of the fore neck in its whole length, brownish-black; a band over the eye, cheeks, and sides of neck ash-grey; middle of breast and abdomen greyish-white; sides olivaceous, barred with brownish-black and white; lower tail-coverts chiefly white, the feathers over them reddish-yellow. Female similar, but duller. Young like the female, but without black on the head or throat.

Male, 9³/₄, 14.

Passes across the United States, both by the interior and along the coast. Some breed in New Jersey. Rarely seen east of Massachusetts. Extremely abundant in autumn on the Delaware, and other streams or lakes furnished with wild oats. A few reside in Florida and Louisiana in winter.

Rail, Rallus carolinus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vi. p. 24.

Rallus carolinus, Bonap. Syn. p. 334.

Carolina Rail, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 208.

Sora Rail, Rallus carolinus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 251; v. v. p. 572.

309. 2. Ortygometra Noveboracensis, Lath. Yellow-breasted Crake-Gallinule.—Yellow-breasted Rail.

Upper parts and sides brownish-black, longitudinally streaked with yellow, and transversely barred with white; a broad band of reddish-yellow over the eye; loral space and a short band behind the eye blackish-brown, fore part of neck and breast light reddish-yellow, each feather terminally margined with brown; axillaries, lower wing-coverts, and middle of abdomen, white; lower tail-coverts brownish-red, with faint whitish dots.

Male, 7³/₄, 12¹/₄.

Common in Lower Louisiana and Florida, where it breeds. Stragglers go as far as Hudson's Bay. Occasionally met with far in the interior. Prefers fresh water.

Rallus noveboracensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 335.

Rallus noveboracensis, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 136.

Yellow-breasted Rail, Rallus noveboracensis, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 402.

Yellow-breasted Rail, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 402.

Yellow-breasted Rail, Rallus noveboracensis. Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 25.

310. 3. Ortygometra Jamaicensis, Briss. Least Crake-Gallinule.

Plate CCCXLIX. Adult and Young.

Head and lower parts dark purplish-grey, approaching to black, the sides and lower wing-coverts and abdomen, barred with greyish-white; hind neck and fore part of back dark chestnut; the rest of the upper parts greyish-black tinged with brown, and transversely barred with white; the wings inclining to reddish-brown.

Male, 6, wing, 3⁷/₈.

From Louisiana to New Jersey, in fresh-water meadows and marshes, difficult of access. Migratory.

Rallus jamaicensis, Briss. Suppl. p. 140.

Least Water Rail, Rallus jamaicensis. Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 359.

GENUS IV. RALLUS, Linn. RAIL.

Bill much longer than the head, slender, compressed, very slightly decurved, high at the base; upper mandible with the dorsal line almost straight, until towards the end, where it is slightly curved, the ridge a little flattened at the base, and extending slightly on the forehead, convex toward the end, nasal sinus forming a groove extending to two-thirds, the sides nearly erect, the edges slightly inflected, the notches very slight, the tip rather obtuse; lower mandible with the angle very long and extremely narrow, the dorsal line almost straight, the sides erect and a little convex, the edges involute, the tip narrowed but obtuse. Nostrils lateral, subbasal, linear. Head, small, oblong, much compressed; neck long and slender; body slender, much compressed. Feet long; tibia, bare below; tarsus rather long, stout, compressed anteriorly covered with broad scutella; hind toe very small and tender, fourth little longer than second, anterior toes very long, scutellate, compressed. Claws of moderate length, arched, slender, much compressed, acute. Plumage rather stiff; feathers of the forehead with the shaft enlarged, and extended beyond the tip. Wings very short and broad; third quill longest. Tail very short, much rounded, of twelve feeble rounded feathers, scarcely longer than the coverts.

311. 1. Rallus elegans, Aud. Great Red-breasted Rail.—Fresh-water Marsh-Hen.

Plate CCIII. Male and Young.

Upper part of head and hind neck dull brown; a brownish-orange line over the eye; lower eyelid white; loral space and band behind the eye dusky; upper parts of the body streaked with brownish-black and light olive-brown, the two sides of each feather being of the latter colour; wing-coverts dull chestnut; most of the irregularly tipped with white primaries deep olive-brown; secondaries and tail-feathers like the back; sides and fore part of neck, with the breast, bright orange-brown; sides of the body and lower wing-coverts undulated with deep brown and greyish-white; tibial feathers pale greyish-brown, faintly barred with darker, as is the hind part of the abdomen; lower tail-coverts white, each with a blackish-brown spot near the end, those in the middle barred with black and white. Female and young similar, but with the tints duller. Iris bright red.

Male, 19, 25. Female, 18, 24.

From Texas to New Jersey, more common from Louisiana to North Carolina. Inland swamps and marshes. Once met with in Kentucky.

Great Red-breasted Rail, Rallus elegans, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 27.

312. 2. Rallus crepitans, Gmel. Clapper Rail.—Salt-water Marsh-hen.

Plate CCIV. Male and Female.

Upper part of head and hind neck olivaceous brown; a brownish-orange line from the bill to the eye; lower eyelid white; loral space, cheeks, and part of the sides of the neck bluish-grey; upper parts of the body streaked with greenish-olive and light grey, the two sides of each feather being of the latter colour; wing-coverts dull olive, tinged with grey, some of them with slight irregular whitish markings; primaries olive-brown, secondaries and tail-feathers like the back; upper part of throat yellowish-white, edged on either side with pale yellowish-brown; sides and fore part of neck bluish-grey, tinged with pale yellowish-brown; the fore part of the breast of the latter colour; lower wing-coverts, sides, hind part of abdomen, and middle lower tail-coverts undulated with deep greyish-brown and greyish-white; lateral tail-coverts with the outer webs white; tibial feathers similarly barred, but paler; middle of abdomen greyish-white; iris pale yellow. Female with the tints duller.

Male, 15, 20³/₄. Female, 14, 19¹/₄.

Exceedingly abundant from Texas to New Jersey, breeding in all salt-water marshes. Few proceed eastward beyond Long Island. Constantly resident from the Carolinas southward. Not inland.

Clapper Rail, Rallus crepitans, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 112; but not the figure, which is that of R. elegans.

Clapper Rail, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 201.

Clapper Rail or Salt-water Marsh-Hen, Rallus crepitans, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 33; v. v. p. 570.

313. 3. Rallus Virginianus, Linn. Virginian Rail.

Plate CCV. Male, Female, and Young.

Upper parts deep brownish-black, streaked with live olive-brown; sides of the head dull bluish-grey, loral space of a deeper tint; a brownish-orange line to the eye; quills and primary coverts; blackish-brown; smaller coverts dark chestnut; throat reddish-white; fore neck and breast bright orange-brown, approaching to yellowish-red; sides, abdomen, and lower wing-coverts barred with brownish-black and white, the bands of the latter narrower; tibial feathers dusky anteriorly, light reddish behind; lower tail-coverts with a central brownish-black spot, their edges white, the tips pale reddish. Female and young similar, but with somewhat duller tints.

Male, 10¹/₂, 14¹/₄. Female, 9¹/₄.

Distributed through the country, and along the Atlantic shores, from Texas to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; breeding in all the districts. Frequents fresh and salt water. Returns southward in autumn, when great numbers spend the winter from Carolina to Louisiana.

Virginian Rail, Rallus virginianus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 109.

Rallus virginianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 334.

Lesser Clapper Rail, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 205.

Virginian Rail, Rallus virginianus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 41; v. v. p. 573.

GENUS V. ARAMUS, Vieill. COURLAN.

Bill long, being double the length of the head, rather slender, but strong, much compressed, straight, its breadth less before the nostrils, than towards the point; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight until towards the end, then slightly arcuato-declinate, the ridge convex in its whole length, the sides nearly erect, more convex toward the extremity, the tip blunted, the edges broad and obtuse for half their length, sharp but thick in the rest of their extent; lower mandible slightly ascending at the base, then direct, much compressed toward the tip, which is acute, the angle long and very narrow, the dorsal line slightly convex, the edges obtuse, becoming sharp towards the end; nasal groove nearly half the length of the bill. Nostrils direct, linear, long. Head rather small, oblong, compressed; neck long and slender; body ovato-oblong, much compressed. Feet very long, rather stout; tibia bare in its lower half; tarsus long, compressed, anteriorly broadly scutellate; toes long, rather slender; hind toe small; fourth considerably longer than second; anterior toes divided to the base, scutellate. Claws of moderate length, very slightly arched, compressed, tapering to a point. Plumage rather compact above, blended beneath. Wings of moderate length, very broad, concave, rounded; first short, falciform, with the inner web broader toward the end; fourth quill longest; inner secondaries much elongated. Tail short, broad, convex, rounded, of twelve broad rounded feathers. Digestive organs as in the Rails and Gallinules.

314. 1. Aramus scolopaceus, Vieill. Scolopaceous Courlan.

Plate CCCLXXVII. Male.

Bill greenish-yellow; feet leaden-grey; plumage chocolate-brown, the upper parts glossed, with purple and brown reflections; fore part of the head paler, inclining to grey, each feather with a greyish-white central line; sides of the head and throat still lighter, and a small portion of the throat whitish, these parts being streaked with greyish-brown and greyish-white; lower eyelid white; hind part and sides of neck marked with elliptical spots of white in regular series, there being one on each feather, some of them extending forwards to the posterior angle of the eye; some of the feathers on the middle of the breast and the lower wing-coverts similarly marked with lanceolate white spots; quills and tail glossy blackish-purple. Female somewhat less, but similar. Young, when fledged, of a much lighter tint; head and fore neck brownish-grey; excepting the quills, primary coverts, tail-feathers, and rump, all the plumage marked with spots of white; those on the neck elongated, on the back, wings, and breast lanceolate.

Male, 25³/₄, 41. Female, 25, 42. Young, 23.

Confined to the Everglades and central parts of Florida, where it is resident, but rather rare. Accidental on the Florida Keys.

Aramus scolopaceus, Bonap. Syn. p. 39.

Scolopaceous Courlan, Aramus scolopaceus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 111.

Scolopaceous Courlan, Aramus scolopaceus, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 68.

Scolopaceous Courlan, Aramus scolopaceus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 543.

FAMILY XXXIV. GRUINÆ. CRANES.

Bill about the length of the head, straight, depressed at the base, compressed toward the end, rather obtuse. Nostrils subbasal, lateral oblong. Head rather small, oblong; neck long; body large, compressed. Legs long and slender; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus somewhat compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes rather long, first short and somewhat elevated; claws obtuse. Plumage full and rather compact. Wings broad, convex, the inner secondaries elongated and decurved; tail short, rounded.

GENUS I. GRUS, Briss. CRANE.

Bill longer than the head, straight, rather slender, but strong, compressed, obtusely pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, a little concave at the middle, slightly declinate toward the tip, the ridge flat and rather broad as far as the middle, the sides sloping, towards the end convex; the nasal sinus narrow, bare, and extending to nearly two-thirds, the edges direct, thick; lower mandible with the angle narrow and very long, the sides perpendicular at the base, the edges thick, the tip narrow and obtuse. Nostrils subbasal, lateral, oblong, large, pervious. Head small, compressed; neck very long and slender; body very large, but compressed. Feet very long; tibia bare to a great extent; tarsus long, stout, moderately compressed, anteriorly covered with broad decurved scutella; toes stout, scutellate, of moderate length, marginate, the first very small and elevated, the fourth webbed at the base. Claws of moderate size, strong, considerably curved, rather compressed, blunted. Plumage imbricated; upper part of head bare. Wings ample, the second, third, and fourth longest, inner secondaries and their coverts curved downwards. Tail short, rounded, of twelve broad, rounded feathers.

315. 1. Grus Americana, Forster. Whooping Crane.—Sand-hill Crane. White Crane. Blue Crane. Brown Crane.

Plate CCXXVI. Male. Plate CCLXI. Young.

Adult with the bill dusky green, the feet black, the bare part of the head carmine, the plumage pure white, except the alula, primaries, and primary coverts, which are brownish-black. Young with the bill and feet brownish-black, the bare part of the head carmine, but less extended, the plumage bluish-grey, the feathers margined with yellowish-brown, chin and sides of head greyish-white, primary quills and coverts dark brown towards the end, with brownish-white shafts.

Male, 54, 92.

From Texas to North Carolina during autumn and winter, and across to the Rocky Mountains. Breeds from Upper California northward to the Arctic Regions, from which it removes southward early in autumn. Abundant in Georgia and Florida, and from thence to Texas.

Whooping Crane, Ardea Americana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 20.

Grus Americana, Bonap. Syn. p. 302.

Grus Americana, Whooping Crane, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 372. Adult.

Grus canadensis, Brown Crane, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 273.

Whooping Crane, Grus Americana, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 34. Adult.

Brown Crane, Grus canadensis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 38. Young.

Whooping Crane, Grus Americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 202, Adult; p. 441, Young.

FAMILY XXXV. CHARADRIINÆ. PLOVERS.

Bill short, straight, subcylindrical, obtusely pointed; upper mandible, with its dorsal line straight for half its length, afterwards convex; nasal groove bare, extended along two-thirds of the length of the bill. Head of moderate size, rather compressed, rounded in front. Eyes large. Neck rather short; body ovate, rather full. Plumage soft, blended, somewhat compact above; wings long, pointed, with the first quill longest. Tail of moderate length, somewhat rounded, or with the middle feathers projecting, of twelve feathers. Œsophagus of moderate width; stomach roundish, compressed, very muscular, with the epithelium dense and rugous; intestine rather long, and of moderate width; with rather long cœca. A single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, shallow; eggs generally four, large, pyriform, spotted. Young densely covered with down, and able to walk immediately after birth.

GENUS I. CHARADRIUS, Linn. PLOVER.

Bill short, or as long as the head, straight, rather stout, somewhat compressed, pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, and slightly declinate for at least half its length, then bulging a little, and arched to the tip, which is rather acute, the sides flat and sloping at the base, convex towards the end, where the edges are sharp and inclinate; nasal groove extended to half the length, and bare; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the sides at the base erect and nearly flat, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the edges sharp and involute towards the tip, which is narrow and rather pointed. Nostrils subbasal, linear, open, and pervious. Eyes rather large. Head of moderate size, roundish, the forehead much rounded; neck rather short; body ovate, rather full. Feet rather long, slender; tibia bare for a considerable space; tarsus rather compressed, covered all round with reticulated hexagonal scales; toes of moderate length, slender, scutellate, second shorter than fourth, first wanting or rudimentary; anterior toes broadly marginate, webbed at the base. Claws small, compressed, slightly arched, rather acute. Plumage soft, blended, the feathers broad and rounded. Wings long and pointed, the primaries tapering, the first longest; inner secondaries tapering and elongated. Tail rather short, or of moderate length, rounded, of twelve rounded feathers. Tongue tapering, grooved above; œsophagus of moderate width; proventriculus oblong; stomach roundish, very muscular, its lateral and inferior muscles prominent, epithelium dense, longitudinally rugous; intestine rather long and of moderate width; cœca rather long.

316. 1. Charadrius Helveticus, Linn. Black-bellied Plover.—Bull-head. Ox-eye.

Plate CCCXXXIV. Male and Young.

An extremely diminutive hind toe; bill and feet black. In summer, the upper parts variegated with black, yellowish-brown, and white, the feathers being tipped with the latter; forehead yellowish-white, the rest of the head and hind neck greyish-white, spotted with dusky; hind part of rump, upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers white, transversely barred with brownish-black, the tail tipped with white, and having four dark bars on the middle feathers, and seven or eight on the outer webs of the rest; primary quills and coverts brownish-black, the latter terminally margined with white; shafts of the primaries about the middle, and part of the inner webs toward the base, white; inner six with a white patch on the outer web toward the base, and margined with white externally; outer secondary feathers white at the base, and margined with the same; inner dusky, with marginal triangular white spots; a narrow ring round the eye, and a broad longitudinal band on each side of the neck, together with the abdomen and lower tail-coverts, white; loral space, cheeks, fore part of neck, breast, and axillar feathers, black. In winter, the upper parts spotted with pale yellow, the lower greyish-white, the throat, neck, and sides streaked with dusky, the axillars black. Young pale brownish-yellow, mottled with dusky, rump whitish. After the second moult, the upper parts brownish-black, spotted with white, some of the spots yellow; fore part and sides of neck and body, greyish-white, mottled with brownish-grey, the rest of the lower parts white.

Male, 11³/₄, 25.

From Texas along the coast to the northern extremity of the Continent. Breeds from Virginia northward. Not abundant.

Tringa helvetica and Squatarola, Linn. Syst. Nat p. 250, 252.

Black-bellied Plover, Charadrius helveticus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 41. Summer.

Charadrius helveticus, Bonap. Syn. p. 298.

Grey Lapwing, Vanellus melanogaster, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 370.

Black-bellied or Swiss Plover, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 26.

Black-bellied Plover, Charadrius helveticus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 280.

317. 2. Charadrius marmoratus, Wagler. American Golden Plover.

Plate CCC. Adult in summer, winter, and spring.

Bill black, feet bluish-grey. In summer the upper part of head, fore part of back, and scapulars variegated with brownish-black and bright yellow, the latter in spots along the edges of the feathers; rump with smaller spots, two on each feather; quills and coverts dark greyish-brown, secondaries paler, the inner margined with yellowish-white spots, the smaller coverts spotted with the same; tail-feathers greyish-brown, faintly banded with paler, the two central with marginal yellowish spots; a broad band of white across the forehead and over the eyes, and extending along the side of the neck; the rest of the lower parts brownish-black, excepting the lower tail-coverts, which are chiefly white, the lateral banded or spotted with black, and the axillary and lower wing-coverts, which are light grey. In winter, the upper parts are blackish-brown, marked with small yellow spots, the lower parts pale grey, passing behind into greyish-white, the neck and breast streaked with greyish-brown. This species, which closely resembles Charadrius pluvialis, is distinguishable by having the tarsus slightly longer, the toes somewhat shorter, and the axillar feathers always light grey, they being white in that species, which very probably exists in North America, although I am not at present in possession of specimens, and cannot with certainty describe it as belonging to that country.

Adult, 10¹/₂, 22³/₈.

Migrates southward in autumn and winter in vast flocks, from the northern regions, resting by the way, both in the interior and along the coast. Breeds on the Northern Barren Grounds, and islands of the Arctic Sea.

Charadrius marmoratus, Wagler, Syst. Avium.

Golden Plover, Charadrius pluvialis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 71. Winter.

Charadrius pluvialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 297.

Charadrius pluvialis, Golden Plover, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 623.

American Golden Plover, Charadrius marmoratus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 575.

318. 3. Charadrius vociferus, Linn. Kildeer Plover.

Plate CCXXV. Male and Female.

Tail rather long, much rounded; bill black, feet light greyish-blue, hind part of tarsus pale flesh-colour; upper part of head, fore part of back, smaller wing-coverts, and inner secondary quills brownish-olive; rump orange-red; lower parts white; a brown band from the base of the bill, under the eye, to the occiput; over this a white band on the forehead, and extending behind the eye, where it is tinged with light red; surmounted by a brownish-black band between the eyes; on the neck two broad rings, the upper white, the lower black, succeeded by a band of white, and another of black in front; primaries brownish-black, each with a white mark, linear on the outer, enlarging on the inner quills; secondaries, excepting the inner, white, but most of them with a large patch of blackish-brown toward the end, their tips and most of those of the primaries white, as are those of the larger coverts. Tail-feathers white at the base, succeeded by orange, the four middle brown, all with a broad subterminal band of black, the tips white, those of the middle feathers pale reddish, the outer on each side white, with three bands of black on the inner web.

Male, 10, 20.

Common. Breeds from Texas to the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, and in all the central and Atlantic districts, to Massachusetts. Fur Countries.

Kildeer Plover, Charadrius vociferus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 73.

Charadrius vociferus, Bonap. Syn. p. 297.

Charadrius vociferus, Kildeer Plover, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 368.

Kildeer Plover, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 22.

Kildeer Plover, Charadrius vociferus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 191; v. v. p. 577.

319. 4. Charadrius montanus, Townsend. Rocky-mountain Plover.

Plate CCCL. Female. Male unknown.

Bill black, feet dull yellow. Forehead, a band over the eye, fore part of neck, and all the rest of the lower surface, white; crown of the head and nape dark yellowish-brown, sides and hind part of the neck dull ochre-yellow, which is the prevailing colour on the upper parts, the feathers being broadly margined with it while their central portion is greyish-brown; wing-coverts lighter; primary coverts and quills dusky, their shafts and margins white, that colour becoming more extended on the inner and on some of the secondaries, so as to form a conspicuous patch on the wing; inner secondaries like the back; tail yellowish-brown, tipped with yellowish-white, the two outer feathers margined with the same.

Female, 8¹/₄, wing 6¹/₈.

Rocky Mountains.

Charadrius montanus, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 192.

Rocky Mountain Plover, Charadrius montanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 362.

320. 5. Charadrius Wilsonius, Ord. Wilson's Plover.

Plate CCLXXXIV. Male. Plate CCIX. Female.

Bill very large, nearly as long as the head, black; feet flesh-coloured; upper parts light greyish-brown, lower white; lower part of forehead, a broad band over the eyes, throat, and a ring round the neck, white; a band between the eyes, and one on the fore neck, brownish-black; quills dusky brown, outer webs of inner primaries white toward the base, most of the quills tipped with white; tail brown, darker toward the end, the lateral feathers becoming white. Female similar, but without the black band on the forehead, and having that on the neck light brown.

Male, 7⁸/₁₂, 14¹/₄.

Common, and breeds from Texas along the coast to Long Island. Resident in the Southern States.

Wilson's Plover, Charadrius Wilsonius, Ord. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 77.

Charadrius Wilsonius, Bonap. Syn. p. 296.

Wilson's Plover, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 21.

Wilson's Plover, Charadrius Wilsonius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 73; v. v. p. 577.

321. 6. Charadrius semipalmatus, Bonap. American Ring Plover.

Plate CCCXXX. Male and Female.

Anterior toes connected by webs of considerable extent; bill small, half the length of the head, reddish-orange, tipped with black; upper parts greyish-brown tinged with olive, lower white; forehead, loral space, a band passing below the eye, and a broad ring on the neck, black; a band between the eyes, throat, and a ring on the neck, white; quills dusky, darker towards the end, an elongated white spot on the inner primaries; tips of the secondary coverts, and two or three of the inner secondaries, with the tips of the rest white; tail-feathers brown, darker toward the end, tipped with white, enlarging toward the outer, which is entirely of that colour. Female similar, with the black bands lighter. Young with the upper parts paler, the feathers narrowly margined with dusky and dull yellow, the black bands on the head wanting, that on the fore neck brown.

Male, 7¹/₄, 14.

From Texas to the Arctic Regions, after passing through the interior, as well as along the Atlantic shores. Breeds in Labrador and the Fur Countries. Many spend the winter in the Floridas.

Ring Plover, Tringa Hiaticula, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 65.

Charadrius semipalmatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 296.

American Ring Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 367.

Semipalmated Ringed Plover, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 21.

American Ringed Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 256; v. v. p. 579.

322. 7. Charadrius melodus, Ord. Piping Plover.

Plate CCXX. Male and Female.

Bill scarcely half the length of the head, orange, with the end black; upper parts pale brownish-grey, lower part of forehead, sides of the face, and all the lower parts white; a black band across the upper part of the forehead, and a ring of the same on the lower part of the neck, broad on the sides, but narrow above and below, where it is formed merely by the tips of some of the feathers; above this is a white band on the hind neck; primaries dusky; a white band on the wing, narrow on the outer primaries, and enlarging so as to include the whole of some of the inner secondaries; secondary coverts also tipped with white; tail white, all the feathers, except the lateral, dusky toward the end. Young paler, the feathers of the upper parts edged with faint brown and yellowish; the black bands wanting.

Male, 7¹/₂, 15¹/₂.

From Texas, along the whole coast, to the Magdeleine Islands, Gulf of St Lawrence, breeding everywhere. Common. Great numbers spend the winter from South Carolina to the mouths of the Mississippi.

Ring Plover, Charadrius Hiaticula, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 30.

Charadrius melodus, Ord., Bonap. Syn. p. 296.

Piping Ring Plover, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 18.

Piping Plover, Charadrius melodus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 154; v. v. p. 578.

GENUS II. APHRIZA, Aud. SURF-BIRD.

Bill a little shorter than the head, rather stout, compressed, tapering, straightish, being recurvate in a slight degree; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, and a little declinate as far as the middle, then concave, and towards the end convex, the nasal grooves extending to near the end, the ridge rather broad and flattened, the tip compressed and bluntish; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending, and slightly convex, the sides grooved for half their length, convex toward the end, the tip narrowed, but blunt. Nostrils subbasal, linear, near the margin. Head rather small, ovate, rounded in front; neck of ordinary length; body rather full. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tibia bare at the lower part, and reticulated; tarsus roundish, with small angular scales all round, those on the fore part larger; toes four, with numerous scutella, the first very small, and placed higher, the anterior toes free to the base, distinctly margined on both edges, flat beneath, the inner considerably shorter than the outer. Claws rather small, curved, compressed, blunted. Plumage full, soft, rather dense, on the neck and lower parts blended. Wings very long, narrow, and pointed; first primary longest, inner secondaries much elongated. Tail rather short, even, of twelve moderately broad feathers. Name from [Greek: Aphros], foam; and [Greek: xaô], to live.