306 RUTICILLA PH(ENICURUS. 



The plumage is soft and blended, the feathers being linear- 

 oblong with the margins loose. The wings are rather long ; 

 the first primary quill about a third of the length of the second, 

 which is shorter than the sixth, the fourth longest, the third 

 and fifth scarcely shorter ; the third, fourth, and fifth slightly 

 cut out on the outer web ; the sscondaries obliquely and abrupt- 

 ly rounded. The tail rather long, slightly rounded, its feathers 

 narrow, and obliquely rounded. 



The bill and feet are black ; the iris dark brown. The an- 

 terior part of the forehead, the loral, auricular, gular, anterior 

 and lateral cervical spaces, are black, the feathers tipped with 

 brownish-white. The forehead and a line over the eye are 

 white. The upper part of the head, the hind-neck, and the 

 back, are ash-grey, the feathers slightly edged with light brown. 

 The rump and tail are reddish-orange, or yellowish-red, the 

 inner webs of the two middle feathers brown. The quills and 

 large coverts are wood-brown, edged with paler. The breast 

 is yellowish-red, the sides, lower wing-coverts, and other infe- 

 rior parts the same but paler, the abdomen nearly white. 



Length to end of tail 5f inches ; extent of wings 9j ; wing 

 from flexure 3^Hj ; tail 2j ; bill along the ridge /g, along the 

 edge of lower mandible j% ; tarsus { \ ; first toe ^\, its claw /^ ; 

 second toe ^^l, its claw ^l ; third toe ^^^ its claw ^\ ; fourth 

 toe y^, its claw y|. 



Female. — The female differs considerably in colour. The 

 upper parts are reddish-grey, the quills and upper wing-coverts 

 greyish-brown, margined with reddish ; the rump and tail red- 

 dish-orange, lighter than in the male, the two middle-feathers 

 brown. The throat is reddish-white, the breast light orange- 

 red, the lower tail-coverts paler, the abdomen reddish-white. 



Length to end of tail b{'^ ; extent of wings 9 1^3. 



Variations. — The variations of colour in adults are incon- 

 siderable, excepting those arising from the effects of the weather. 

 The above descriptions are from individuals in perfect plumage; 

 but when the summer is advanced, the edges of all the feathers 

 being worn, the grey of the back becomes pure, as do the black 



