V ID U A A X IL L A R IS .
Aves—Platel7 (Male)
A ves.—P late XVII., '(Male.)
Y. nigra: humerorum partibus anterioribus aurantiis; alarum tectricibus axillisque flavo-brunneis; man-
dibulS. superiore nigrd, inferiore albidd; pedibus rubro-brunneis.
Longitudo 6 unc.
C olour, &c. -Velvet-black; the anterior portion of shoulder orpiment
orange; wing coverts intermediate between yellowish brown and reddish
orange, which is also the colour of the inner ^surface of the shoulders.
Primary and secondary quill coverts black, their outer vanes delicately edged
with light yellowish brown; quill and tail feathers black, with a greenish
gloss; the outer vanes of most of the secondary and tertiary quill feathers
towards their points narrowly edged with pale wood-brown, and several of
the tertiaries are also tipt with the same colour. Upper mandible black;
lower, bluish white; legs, toes, and claws dark reddish brown.
F orm, &cSBill strong, conical, and pointed, its sides slightly flattened;
the under mandible larger than the upper. Wings when folded reach about
an inch and a half beyond the base of the ta il; the first quill feather
rudimentary, the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth equal in length, and the
longest, the second, third, and seventh rather shorter. Tail feathers unequal
as to length, being in our specimen in different stages of growth, and in
progress to form a long tail, which the males of this species evidently possess
during the summer season. Tarsi strong, the division between the plates, in
front, distinctly marked; toes strong, claws long, pointed, and slightly
curved,—the claw of the hinder toe largest, and its form strongly indicating
the office it is required to perform in assisting the bird in supporting itself on
reeds, rushes, &c., upon which it usually perches. The inner and outer toes
of equal length.