174 MACHETES PUGNAX. 



are renewed twice in the year. In spring, moreover, a tuft 

 of oblong curved feathers projects from each side of the 

 occiput ; and along the sides of the neck anteriorly arise 

 series of elongated, oblong, incurved feathers, capable of 

 being raised so as to form a large ruff. The cheeks, fore- 

 head, and space around the eyes become at the same time 

 covered with obovate or oblong papillae of a yellow colour 

 and fleshy consistence. In June these papillae disappear, the 

 summer plumage begins to be shed, and by the end of 

 October the winter dress is completed. 



Male in Summer. — Bill yellowish-orange, toward the 

 end brown ; papillae on the head reddish ; feet yellow ; claws 

 black. The wings, tail, and abdomen, as in winter ; but all 

 the other parts varying so as to render a general description 

 impracticable. Thus in an individual before me the occi- 

 pital tufts are purplish-black ; the ruff pale yellow, streaked 

 and variegated with black ; in another, the tufts are minutely 

 variegated with light red and black, while the ruff is glossy 

 purplish-black ; in another, the tufts and ruff are variegated 

 with reddish-yellow and black • in another they are purplish- 

 black, barred with white ; in another almost entirely yellow ; 

 in another nearly white. In short, there is no end to the 

 variations of these parts. The neck, breast, and sides are 

 frequently black, glossed with blue and purple ; but often 

 also variegated with white and black, or yelloAv, grey, and 

 other tints. For the most part the hind-neck and back are 

 barred and mottled with brownish-black and light reddish- 

 yellow ; the middle tail-feathers usually barred. 



Female in Summer. — The female does not acquire any 

 tubercles or ornamental feathers on the head or neck. The 

 bill is black ; the feet greenish-grey. The upper parts 

 greyish-brown, glossed with green ; the fore part of the 

 neck and breast paler ; the rest of the lower parts white. 



Habits. — This species formerly bred in great numbers in 

 the fenny districts along the eastern coast of England ; but, 

 owing to the draining of the marshes, and the increase of 



