In liotli sexes tliere is a vermilion membrane over eneli eye, larger and more conspicuous in tho male.
In winter flic plumage is pure white, with the exception of the tail, which is black tipped with white,
feet grow very long and thick a t this season, covering the entire fool, sometimes oven the nails. Tho.sc h
hciicatli, and white. They are shod generally in July.
Tbe feathers of the logs and
e very long, thin, concave
Tl„ h , « tl,. I,...... t to , . ,l.,k b tw .W , ,.d , „1,1, . M..k ,k . . t o . b b .k » h .to „ „ . to .k of f t ,
ind black, with white spot« on the wings. Under parts yellowish. Tail
nock. Upper part of the body speckled with rufous brown ,
yeliowisli brown, barred irregularly with blackish brown.
This species scorns to he constantly moulting, aa it is I’cry ) find D specimen that has not any new feathers upon some i>art of
its body. The change from the summer to the winter dress commences generally toward the latter part of September, and tho birds
present a very pretty spccklc.i appearance with the white feathere iiitcrmiiigled with the colored ones,
The spring moult commences liret with the males, the colored feathers appearing upon the head and neck, which, from their red hue
when contrasted with the wl.ite bodies, have a very peculiar effect when viewed from a distance. The mottled feathere of the back next
appear, and lastly those of the breast. The feathere near the nostril, seem to remaiu white the longest, as I havo frequently observed
this in specimens which otherwise wore in complete summer plumage. The back figure in the plate shows this pociiliarity.
change until several days after the male, but proceeds more rapidly Tho female does not com with the moult, and assumes
her full livery nearly a t the same time as the other
I havo considered it best to give two plates of this species, so as to show it in both the summer and winter dross.
The first represents two adult males, aud a female surrounded by her brood; the other, one bird in process of change, aad
pure white livery, All the figures are life-size.
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