t h e surface among the rushes or other such vegetation that there has
its n a t u r a l growth.
T h e eggs appear to be from two to four or five in number. They
a r e of a white colour, w i t h a faint tinge of blue.
M a l e ; l e n g t h , one foot one inch and a half; the base of the under
m a n d i b l e is pale yellowish pink, the tip greyish, the remainder black;
t h e space between the bill and the eye is rich yellowish chesnut red,
or o r a n g e buff-colour, and this b a r goes b e h i n d t h e eye, g r o w i n g g r a d u a l ly
b r o a d e r ; iris, yellow in the centre, s u r r o u n d e d with bright crimson
r e d , the p u p i l bordered with w h i t e ; the eyelids and the feathers round
t h e eye and those that compose the double-horned tuft on the back of
t h e h e a d are of a bright orange buff-colour; the tufts are somewhat
e r c c t i b l e , and stand out like two ears. The forehead, dull ferruginous;
t h e crown, the ruff that s u r r o u n d s the head, its sides, and the upper
p a r t of the neck, are d u s k y black, w i t h a reflection of p u r p l e or g r e e n;
i n winter dark brown; neck in front and on the sides, b r i g h t ferruginous
orange chesnut; on the back part and the nape, dusky, or
b l a c k i s h grey dashed with ferruginous, the feathers having paler
margins. Chin and throat, diisky black with p u r p l e and green reflect
i o n s , and a l i t t l e mottled with w h i t e ; in winter w h i t e ; breast on the
u p p e r part, bright ferruginous orange chesnut, darker on the lower
p a r t ; below silky white, the sides intermixed with dusky and orange
f e r r u g i n o u s ; in winter the breast on the upper part is greyish white.
Back, blackish grey, the edges of the feathers being paler than the
r e m a i n d e r ; in winter it is dark greyish brown.
The wings e x t e n d to the width of one foot ten i n c h e s ; greater and
lesser wing coverts, d a r k brown; the primaries are dark brown; the
secondaries are t i p p e d w i t h white, forming a conspicuous band across
t h e wing when opened; the tertiarics arc in winter greyish brown.
Under tail coverts, white. Legs and toes, b l a c k i s h grey on the outer
p a r t , and pale yellowish or greyish brown tinged with pale yellowish
g r e y on the inner.
I n the autumn, from the base of the bill a stripe of chesnut-tipped
f e a t h e r s goes over the eyes to the back of the h e a d ; the head on the
crown is dull black, on the sides mottled with black and white, not
q u i t e meeting behind the h e a d ; neck in front and on t h e sides, mottled
w i t h dusky and chesnut; throat and breast, silvery white. Back on
t h e lower p a r t , mottled with dusky and chesnut.
T h e female is of less b l i g h t colours and size.
T h e young when first hatched, are covered with grey down. The
b i l l is d u s k y , the ba;c of the lower mandible and the tip pale hornc
o l o u r ; head on the sides white, on the crown, neck on the back, and
n a p e , dark ash-coloured with a t i n g e of b r o w n ; chin and t h r o a t , w h i t e;
breast , silky white, the sides grey. Back, dusky brownish grey, the
margins of the feathers paler. Legs and toes, dusky, darker on the
front than the back part.