EUROPEAN DABCHICK. 277 



mixed with brown; the fore part of the breast and the sides of 

 the body light yellowish-broion, the rest of the lower parts and 

 the throat white; the upper p>arts dusky, the fore part of the 

 back and the scapidars greyish-yelloio. 



Male. — This curious little bird being sufficiently described, 

 as to form and plumage, in the generic character already 

 given, it is only necessary here to mention some additional 

 particulars, and give an account of its colours. The bill is 

 very similar in form to that of the Corncrake, and of a dusky 

 colour, the basal part of the lower mandible, the extreme 

 tips of both, and the bare spaces between the eyes and the 

 bill, brownish-white. The iris is brownish-red. The feet 

 are olivaceous externally, flesh-coloured on the inner side. 

 On the tarsus are sixteen anterior scutella ; on the toes the 

 scutella are not distinct from the lateral plates. The upper 

 part of the head, occiput, hind-neck, and throat are greenish- 

 black ; the cheeks, sides, and fore part of the neck chestnut ; 

 the lower part of the neck in front, and the sides blackish- 

 grey, the latter tinged with red ; the rest of the lower parts 

 blackish-grey, mixed with white. The upper parts greenish- 

 black, the scapulars tinged with yellowish-brown ; the quills 

 brownish-grey ; most of the secondary quills white, unless on 

 part of the outer web toward the end. 



Length to end of tail 10 inches ; wing from flexure 4 ; 

 bill along the ridge \^, along the edge of lower mandible 1 ; 

 bare part of tibia -^^ ; tarsus 1-j^ ; hind toe -j^, its claw Jj ; 

 second toe 1^, its claw ^ ; third toe l^^, its claw -^ ; fourth 

 toe 1^, its claw -^j. 



Female. — The female is similar to the male, but some- 

 what less. 



Variations. — Individuals vary considerably in colour, 

 the lower parts, in particular, being more or less dusky. 



Habits. — Common as this little bird is, its habits have 

 not often been well described by scientific writers. 



One quiet evening in the beginning of March, as I Avas 



