Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/581

Rh acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the recumbent feathers. The general form is slender. Feet proportionally large ; tarsus of mode- rate length, anteriorly covered with a few long scuteUa, and sharp behind ; hind toe very large and strong, the two lateral nearly equal, the outer united at the base with the middle; claws large, arched, much compressed, very acute.

Plumage blended, tufty. Wings of moderate length, the fourth quill longest, fifth almost equal, third scarcely shorter than fourth, first very short. Tail long, much rounded, of twelve rather narrow, rounded feathers.

Bill black. Iris very dark brown. Feet lead-colour. The general tint of the upper parts is dull leaden, tinged with light brown, the head umber brown ; primaries edged with pale greyish-blue. The throat and fore neck are deep black, that colour being separated from the brown of the head by a broad band of white running under the eye. The breast and belly greyish-white, the sides light yellowish-brown.

Length 5 inches, extent of wings 7; bill along the ridge |*^j, along the edge /g ; tarsus /g, middle toe with the claw -^^^ hind toe the same. Adult Female, in summer. Plate CXCIV. Fig. 9..

The female resembles the male, but the upper pai'ts are deeply tinged with brown, and the head and throat are of a lighter tint.

Young fully fledged. Plate CXCIV. Fig. 3.

Bill greyish-blue. Upper parts of a dull greenish-grey. The throat marked as in the adult, the under parts pale greyish tinged with brown. The plant represented in this plate is abundant in Labrador, New- foundland, and our Northern States. It is a species of Primus, and at- tains a height of eight or ten feet.