358 COCCOTIIRAUSTES ATROGULARIS. 



the forehead and cheeks paler. A broad band of ash-grey runs 

 across the hind-neck. The fore part of the back, and the sca- 

 pulars are dark chestnut ; the hind part light brownish-grey, 

 gradually changing to yellowish-brown, which is the colour of the 

 upper tail-coverts. Small upper wing-coverts blackish-brown ; 

 those of the first row tipped with white. Primary coverts 

 greyish-wdiite, secondary yellowish-brown. Alula, primary 

 coverts, and quills black, their outer webs and tips glossed with 

 purple and blue ; the outer primaries with a white spot on the 

 inner w^eb near the middle, the rest and the secondaries with 

 the greater part of their inner w^eb greyish- white. Tail-feathers 

 black ; the outer four on each side with a large terminal white 

 spot on the inner web, the four middle grey towards the end, 

 tipped with white, and tinged with red on part of the outer 

 web. The lower parts are pale yellowish-brown, the lower 

 tail-coverts w^hite. 



Length to end of tail 7^ ; extent of wings 11^; wing from 

 flexure 4j^j ; tail 2i ; bill along the ridge ^f, along the edge 

 of lower mandible H; tarsus lOi twelfths; hind toe 4i 

 twelfths, its claw 4^ twelfths ; second toe j%, its claw 2^ 

 twelfths; third toe j^^ its claw i*^. 



Female. — The female is somewhat smaller than the male, 

 but similarly coloured, although the tints are paler ; the fore 

 part of the back being light chestnut or brownish-red. 



Length to end of tail 6\^. 



Variations. — I have not observed any remarkable variations 

 in the colours of the individuals which I have examined, about 

 a dozen in number, three of them recent ; but M. Temminck 

 states that the species varies occasionally to pure white, yel- 

 lowish, or greyish ; the wings or tail often white ; or white 

 feathers interspersed among the rest. 



Habits. — The Grosbeak is an irregular visitant in the north- 

 ern parts of the island, appearing here and there in various 

 parts of the country towards the beginning of winter. It is 

 more frequently met with in England than in Scotland, al- 



