Plumage compact all over. Wings short, rounded, third, fourth and
fifth quills longest and almost equal ; second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth
slightly cut out on the outer web. Tail of moderate length, slightly
rounded, of twelve broad rounded feathers.
Bill bright blue above, the fleshy parts at the base bright carmine. Iris very dark brown. Scales of the feet carmine, the interspaces white ; claws bluish-grey. The general colour of the plumage above is a rich deep chocolate, slightly tinged with olive, beneath brownish-red, lighter on the middle of the breast, the sides and under tail coverts approaching to the tint of the back. The upper part of the head bright blue, en- circled 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 spotted with bright blue.
Length 12^ inches, extent of wings ITg ; bill along the ridge |, along the edge 1 ; tarsus 1|, middle toe 1| ; weight IO5 oz.
Adult Female. Plate CLXXII. Fig. 2.
The Female is rather less, but in external appearance resembles the male.
The beautiful Cyperus represented in this plate is quite abundant on all the dry Keys of the Floridas, and is also found in many parts of the interior of the peninsula.
