196 BRITISH BIliDS' XESTS. 



told me, whilst in Xortli Uist, that its eggs fetch 

 as much as ten shillings each in that island. 



Materials. — Dry grass. The nest is said to he 

 deep, and ahout the size of that of a Titlark. 



Eggs. — Four, ground colour varying from olive- 

 green to light huffish-hrown, spotted and blotched 

 with umber and blackish-brown, most thickly at the 

 larger end. Size about l"! by "83 in. Easity dis- 

 tinguished by small size. 



Time. — June. 



Bemarlxs. — Migrator}^, arriving in May and de- 

 parting in August. Notes, tirrr. Local and other 

 names : Red Phalarope, Half Web, Red-necked 

 Coot Foot, Red-necked Lobe Foot. Gregarious, 

 and very tame on its breeding-grounds. 



PHEASANT. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about three 

 feet, nearly two of which are accounted for by 

 the abnormally long tail. Beak short, curved 

 downwards, and light yellowish horn colour, duller 

 at the base. Irides hazel. Round the eye the 

 skin is bare, crimson, and minutely speckled wuth 

 black. The feathers of the head and neck all 

 round are steel-blue, with a j^nrple-green or brown 

 sheen, according to the light upon them. Upper 

 part of back deep orange, tipped with rich black ; 

 lower back and scapulars made up of a mixture of 

 dark orange and dull brown, each feather having a 

 straw-coloured outer margin. Wing-coverts red, of 

 different shades. Quills greyish and yellowish-brown. 

 Rump and upper tail-coverts pale yellowush-brown. 

 Tail- quills brown, tinged with yellow, and trans- 

 versely barred with black. Breast and belly golden 



