2o8 Mjjor'Ge/jenrl Thomas D Avitz\ De/cn'ption 



down to the knee. Scapulars of a browiiilli tinge. Uj^per tail 

 , coverts, and prime quill feathers, which are fomewhat curved at the 

 ends, brown black. Edges of the quills gray. The legs long and 

 %'ery flrong, covered with large fcales, efpecially in front. The feet, 

 which are likewife large, and the nails, are black ; the lail: fome- 

 what crooked, convt^x above and tlat beneath ; the hind nail near 

 three quarters of an inch long. 



The tail confifis, in the whole, of fixteen feathers; all of which, 

 except the two upper or middle ones, and the two exterior on each 

 fide, have long flender Ihafts furnifhed on each fide with delicate 

 long filaments, four inches or more in length, placed pretty clofe 

 towards the ramp, but more diftant from each other as they ap- 

 proach the extremity, and refemble much thofe of the Greater Pa- 

 raJife Bird. The two middle or upper ones are longer than the 

 reft, flender, narrow at the bafe, growing wider as they approach the 

 ends, which are pointed; webbed on the inner edge all the way, and 

 furnilhed with fome diflant hair-like threads near the end on the outer 

 fide, of a pale gray colour beneath, and brown black above, as is the 

 rell: of the tail. The two exterior feathers on each fide are of an extra- 

 ordinary conftruiflion, rather more than an inch wide at the bafe, and 

 growing wider as they proceed to the ends, where they are full two 

 inches broad and curve outwardly; the curved part is black with a 

 narrow white border; the quills of thefe feathers are double for two 

 thirds down from the rump. The general colour of the under fides 

 of thcfe two feathers is of a pearly hue, elegantly marked on the 

 inner web with bright rufous coloured crefcent-fhaped fpots, which, 

 from the extraordinary conftrudtion of the parts, appear wonderfully 

 tranfparenr, although at firft fight feemingly the darkeft ; they are 

 alfo elongated into ilender filaments of an inch or more, elpecialiy 

 towards the extremities. 



The figure of the male, which acjcompanies thisdefcription, wa^ 



taken 



