llKJ)-THl{OArEl) 1X)0N. 307 



feathov, those on tlie liind part of the hack sniaUei and 

 fainter. The primary quills are blackish-grey, tinged with 

 green, the secondaries like the feathers of the hack ; the tail- 

 feathers tipped with greyish-white. From the middle of the 

 neck the lower parts are pure white, excepting the sides 

 under the wings, Avhich are dark-grey, speckled with white, 

 the axillar feathers, which have a medial streak of grey, a 

 faint hand across the hind part of the abdomen, formed by 

 the grey margins of the feathers, most of those under the tail 

 being also similarly tipped. There is no obvious difference 

 between the male and the female at this age. The dimen- 

 sions of two are as follows : — 



Male. — Length 24 inches ; extent of wings 41 ; wing 

 from flexure lO-j^ ; tail 2^ ; bill along the ridge 2-^ ; along 

 the edge of lower mandible 3-^ ; tarsus 2-L^ ; outer toe o^V, 

 its claw ^. 



Female. — Length 24^ inches ; extent of Avings 40 ; wing 

 from flexure lOg- ; tail 2^^ ; bill along the ridge 1^^ ; along 

 the edge of lower mandible 2\^ ; tarsus 2-/^ ; outer toe S-^^j, 

 its claw -fV. 



Progress toward Maturity. — In the first spring the 

 feathers of the throat and neck are partially shed, and a patch 

 of yellowish-red appears on the fore part. After the autumnal 

 moult the bill is much darker ; the sides and hind part of the 

 neck are grey ; the upper parts brownish-black, tinged with 

 green, and still speckled with white spots, which however are 

 much smaller ; the lower parts pure white, excepting the 

 sides, Avhich are as dark as the back, the streaks on the axil- 

 lars, and the band across the abdomen, which is dusky ; most 

 of the lower tail-coverts pure white, the immediate series only 

 being dusky, unless at the end. 



In spring the head and neck become coloured as in the 

 adult ; the bill is now nearly all black, and much stronger ; 

 but the feathers of the body remain until the autumnal moult. 

 The plumage is then that of the adult in winter, with the 

 exception of some white spots on the back and scapulars. 



