COURSER. 67
reddish buff; chin, white; throat and breast, pale reddish or buff white,
the latter paler on the lower part; back, buff cream-colour with a
tinge of orange.
The wings have the first almost as long as the second feather, which
is the longest in the wing; greater and lesser wing coverts, buff creamcolour;
primaries, brownish black, glossed with purple, as arc the outer
secondaries; inner secondaries and tertiaries, buff colour. The tail
feathers, except the two middle ones, have an angular black spot near
the end, but occupying the inner web only on the outer feather, the
ends of all nearly white; under tail coverts, nearly white. The legs,
which are long, and bare of feathers half an inch above the knee,
and the toes, which are short, cream-colour; claws, blackish brown;
that of the middle toe is pectinated, and the outer one is united to
it by a rather broad membrane, the inner one by a smaller one;
the soles and joints, grey.
The plumage is soft and close.
The female resembles the male.
The young have the lines over the eye not very distinct; back,
clouded with two shades of brown; the primaries edged on the inner
web with bull'.