BUFFEL-HEADED GARROT. 187 



webs dusky, the claws broAvnish-black. The head and upper 

 part of the neck seem black, but the fore part of the head is 

 deep green, the upper bluish-purple, as are the fore part and 

 sides of the neck, while its hind part is deep green. A 

 broad band of white, which extends from one cheek over the 

 occiput to the other. The rest of the neck, the lower parts, 

 the outer scapulars, and a large patch on the wing, including 

 the greater part of the smaller scapulars, and some of the 

 secondary coverts and quills, pure white, the scapulars nar- 

 rowly margined with black, as are the inner feathers of the 

 sides under the wings. The back, inner scapulars, and 

 inner secondary quills velvet- black. The feathers on the 

 anterior edge of the wing are black, narrowly edged with 

 white ; the primary quills and their coverts black ; tail- 

 feathers brownish-grey, with the edges paler and the shafts 

 dusky. 



Length to end of tail 15 inches ; bill along the ridge 1^2) 

 along the edge of lower mandible l-pj; wing from flexure 

 6-La ; tarsus 1^3^ ; hind toe and claw -^ ; third toe 2, its 

 claw -j^. 



Female in Winter. — The female, which is much smaller, 

 has the bill less stout, the feathers of the head less elon- 

 gated, as are the scapulars and the feathers of the sides. 

 The bill is blackish-grey ; the feet dull greyish-blue, the 

 membranes dusky. The head, upper and hind parts of the 

 neck, the back, and Avings are greyish-brown. There is a 

 short transverse white band from beneath the eye, and a 

 slight speck of the same on the lower eyelid. Six of the 

 secondary quills are white on the outer web. The tail dull 

 greyish-brown. The lower parts are white, the sides light 

 greyish-brown. 



Length to end of tail 13 inches ; bill along the ridge 

 1^ ; wing from flexure 6|- ; tarsus 1-^ ; third toe l^f , its 

 claw ^. 



Habits. — To study the habits of this species it would be 

 necessary for us to betake ourselves to America, where it is 

 said to be very common. Mr. Audubon's account of them is 



