extending to near the tip, which is obtuse and probe-like, the edges soft
and obtuse. Nostrils basal, linear, very small. Lower mandible with
the angle extremely long and narrow, the sides nearly erect, with a groove
having several bars across it; the end of both mandibles covered, after
death, with numerous prominences, or rather with reticular depressions,
leaving small prominences between them.
Head rather small, oblong, narrowed anteriorly, the forehead elevated
and rounded. Neck rather short. Body rather full. Legs of moderate
length, slender; tibia bare below, scutellate before and behind ; tarsus with
numerous scutella before, smaller ones behind, and reticulated sides ; toes
very slender, free, scutellate above, narrow and slightly margined beneath ;
first very small, third longer than the tarsus, fourth much shorter, but considerably
longer than second. Claws slightly arched, extremely compressed,
very acute, that of the third toe largest.
Plumage very soft, rather full, blended, on the fore part of the head
very short. Wings of moderate length, narrow, sharp ; primaries broad,
tapering, but rounded, the first extremely small and pointed, the second
longest, the third very little shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries
broad, short, incurved, rounded, the inner very long, tapering,
as are the scapulars. Tail short, rounded, of sixteen rounded feathers.
Bill brown, the granulated part towards the tip black. Iris hazel.
Feet bluish-grey, claws dusky. On the upper part of the head two brownish
black longitudinal broad bands, separated by a narrower central pale
brown one, and with another pale brown band on each side from the bill
over the eye ; then a loral band of dark brown ; chin whitish; neck pale
reddish-brown, spotted with brownish-black. The general colour of the
upper parts is brownish-black, variegated with pale reddish-brown, of
which latter colour are the outer edges of the scapulars and of the lateral
feathers on the anterior part of the back. Wing-coverts and inner secondaries
similarly mottled, the smaller anterior coverts, the primary coverts,
primary quills, and outer secondaries deep brown, more or less tipped
with white; first quill white, dusky in the centre, second with the outer
edge brownish-white ; rump barred with yellowish-grey and dusky ; upper
tail-coverts similar, but the larger barred with brownish-red and black.
Tail-feathers brownish-black at the base, with a broad subterminal band
of brownish-red on the outer web of the two middle, and on both webs of
the rest, excepting the outer on each side, which is barred with brownishblack
and white, the black bars five; the tips of all white. Anterior part
of breast like the neck, the rest white; abdomen and lower tail-coverts
greyish-yellow, barred with brownish-black, as are the sides; scapulars
white, barred with greyish-black ; lower wing-coverts similarly mottled.
Length to end of tail 10,^ inches, to end of claw 11^ ; extent of
wings 17 ; wing from flexure 5; tail 2^ ; bill along the back 2T
7
g , along
the edge of lower mandible 2 ^ ; tarsus 1T
2
2 , middle toe 1£, its claw
Weight 3 oz.
Adult Female. Plate CCXLIII. Fig. 2.
The Female resembles the Male, but is rather larger.
Autumnal plumage, Plate CCXLIII. Fig 3.
The young in autumn resemble the old birds, but have the dark markings
of a browner tint, the light more dingy, and the colours in general
less pure.