310 CO M M 0 K S A N 1> I' I PER.
Light-coloured one. Head on the sides and on the crown, neck on
the hack and nape, greenish brown, clouded with bluish grey and dull
yellowish, and delicately marked with a dusky greenish black stripe
across the centre, and along the shaft of each feather. Chin and throat,
white; throat on the sides, and breast on the upper part, pale greenish,
with dusky black streaks; the lower, white. Back, greenish brown,
each feather with a darker dusky greenish black stripe across its centre
and along the shaft, and further varied with fine transverse zigzag lines
of dark brown, giving the bird an elegantly mottled appearance.
The wings, which are very long, have the first feather the longest;
their extent of expanse is from one foot two inches to one foot two
inches and a half; greater wing coverts, tipped with white. The lesser
wing coverts have in summer a black border near the tip of eacli feather,
which appears to be wauling in the winter plumage. Primaries, nearly
black, each, except the first one or two, with a greyish white patch
on the centre of the inner web. The tail has the four centre feathers
dusky greenish brown, with a dusky greenish black stripe across the
centre and along the shaft line of each; the four outer feathers on
each side, there being twelve in all, tipped with white; and the two
outermosl on each side with the outer web dull white, or pale brown,
barred with greenish black. The whole tail is thus barred; the middle
feathers are the longest, and the others gradually shortened. Upper
tail coverts, also greenish brown, with the like dusky greenish black
streaks along the shafts and across; under tail coverts, white. Legs
and toes, pale bluish green or yellowish grey, with transparent brown
at the joints; the latter are webbed to the first joint, and have a brief
membranous edging along their whole length. Claws, dark brown.
The young are at first covered with down of a greyish brown colour
above, with black streaks upon the head, and a black list down the back,
the under parts being white. In the course of three weeks they are
able to fly. The young of the year have the white streak over the
eye more distinct. The neck in front, white, with the dark streaks
on the sides only. The back with (he feathers edged with reddish
buff, spotted with black. The greater and lesser wing coverts, darker.