696 CALAMOPHILUS BIARMICUS. 



grey ; the general colour of the upper parts is light red ; the 

 smaller wing-coverts black ; the quills dusky with a tinge of 

 grey, the outer margins of the jjrimaries greyish-white, those 

 of the secondaries light red ; the inner secondaries with a 

 black stripe on the outer web, and the inner mostly white, 

 with a reddish tinge. The outer feather of the tail is black 

 in its basal half, white in the rest ; the next two on each 

 side with the outer webs white, and the inner reddish-white ; 

 the rest of the same colour as the back. The throat is 

 greyish-white ; on each side of it, proceeding from the base 

 of the bill, and including the elongated feathers, a black mys- 

 tachial band, whence the specific name of the bird ; the fore- 

 neck pale grey, that colour gradually passing into light red, 

 which is the prevailing tint on the lower parts ; the abdomen 

 lighter ; the lower tail-coverts pure black. 



Length to end of tail Gg inches ; extent of wings 7^ ; 

 bill along the ridge i*^, along the edge of lower mandible |i ; 

 wing from flexure 2^ ; tarsus |=5 ; hind toe ^\,, its claw |V ; 

 second toe /j, its claw j\, ; third toe ^^^, its claw f-^ ; fourth 

 toe ^%, its claw I'j. 



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

 and wants the elongated mystachial feathers. The colours 

 are as in the male, but of a paler tint ; the head pale red- 

 dish-grey ; the outer three tail-feathers on each side with 

 their bases dusky ; and the lower tail-coverts light red like 

 the sides. 



Length to end of tail G4- inches. 



Habits. — The Bearded Pinnock, which is extensively dis- 

 persed over the continent, inhabiting the marshy borders of 

 rivers, but not extending northward beyond the Baltic, occurs 

 in England chiefly along the Thames, and in the counties of 

 Cambridge, Norfolk, Sufi:blk, and Lincoln. Its residence is 

 among the reeds and other aquatic plants that margin the 

 streams and pools, where it is little subject to observation. 

 They cling to the stems, in all imaginable postures, often 

 with the head down, climbing and descending with equal ease, 



