196 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXV. 



outer limits of its habitat. The variation consists principally in 

 the boldness of the markings which make up between them the grey 

 of the upper parts ; in some specimens the markings are so minute 

 that they can only be called vermiculations, though these seem to 

 always run in regular bars, in others the markings are bolder and 

 form distinct bars of white on a black ground. These latter indivi- 

 diials become more and more common as we approach the limits of 

 rafipes, whilst the former characters predominate as we draw nearer 

 the country occupied by oatesi. In this part of the southern region 

 covered by williaovsi, it is also noticeable that the rump and upper 

 back grade into one another through the lower back instead of the 

 upper back being sharply defined from the other two. Such speci- 

 mens are, however, comparatively rare, and even in these the rump 

 and upper tail-coverts are quite boldly barred with white in com- 

 parison with the rest of the plumage. 



Colours of the soft jKtrts. — Iris brown, light brown or golden 

 brown ; lappets and facial skin deep crimson red or crimson, duller 

 in the autumn and winter ; legs various shades of dark and light 

 plumbeous-brown, ashy-brown, or fleshy livid, never red; the spui" 

 is a dark hornj^ brown with a paler tip. 



Measurements. — Wing from 8-6" (218-4 mm.) to 10" (254-(j 

 ram.); average of forty birds, 8'91" (226-3 mm.); tail from 8- G" 

 (218-4 mm.) to 12" (304-8 mm.); average of forty birds, 10-15" 

 (258-8 mm.); tarsus about 3" (76-2 mm.), with a spur iip to 1" 

 (25-4 mm.) ; but generally about -7" (17-8 mm.) ; bill at front 1-2" 

 (30-4 mm.), and from gape 1-4" (35-6 mm.). 



The crest runs up to about 3" (76-2 mm.), but is generally about 

 2-5" (69-5 mm.). 



Adult Female. — Very similar to true Jiorsfieldi, but can always be 

 distinguished by the tail feathers. In this sub-species the central or 

 two central pairs are much the same as in the other sub-species, 

 though they are generally paler and still more chestnut in colour, 

 the outer feathers are, however, black or nearly black with numer- 

 ous narrow and irregular broken bars of white. On the Avhole the 

 I'emales of G. h. ivilliarnsi are paler and more chestnut on the upper 

 plumage, but this does not always hold good, and over ever}^ 

 portion of its area, specimens of villiamsi niaj^ be met with quite as 

 dark as the the darkest of G. h. liorsfieldi. 



The females of this sub-species appear to be remarkably constant, 

 for though the British Museum has an excellent series, little varia- 

 tion can be found in it. A few birds are decidedly paler than 

 others, and have the general tone more a buff than a chestniit. The 

 under surface of the tail varies from an almost immarked blackish 

 brown to a well-barred surface similar to the upper aspect. 



Colours of the soft parts. — Similar to those of horsfieldi. It 

 should be noted particularly that the legs of this sub-species, both 



