212 



Allen's nalurallst's LinRARV. 



Adult Female General colour above glossy blue-black from 



the hind-neck to the tail, dividing the mantle and back down 

 the centre ; the sides of the mantle, remainder of the back, 

 scapulars, and wing-coverts bronzy-brown, with broad edges of 

 blue-black to all the feathers; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, 

 and quills black, externally greyish-bronze, the feathers with a 

 broad black margin as well ; tail-feathers slaty-black, with grey- 

 ish shafts ; crown of head and neck glossy blue-black, with a 

 very evident nuchal crest ; under surface of body blue-black ; 

 sides of face, ear-coverts, cheeks, and upper throat creamy- 

 white, ascending to a point in the centre of the chin, which 

 is bare like the lores, region of the eye, and fore-part of the 

 cheeks ; the crown, neck, and lower throat ornamented with 

 numerous white filaments, which completely conceal the black 

 ground-colour ; on the sides of the lower flanks a large white 

 patch ; sides of upper breast bronzy-brown, the flanks bor- 

 dered with black, as on the back; under wnng-coverts and 

 axillaries black ; bill brown above, slate-colour below, including 

 edge of lower mandible ; gular skin lemon-yellow ; feet black ; 

 iris green. Total length, 32 inches; culmen, 2-6; wing, 12-8; 

 tail, 6'o ; tarsus, 2*5. 



Adult Male. — Similar to the female, but larger and with the 

 crest somewhat more developed. Total length, 30 inches; 

 wing, 12-5. 



Winter Plumage — Black like the summer plumage, but not 

 having the white filaments on the head and neck, and the 

 white patch on the thighs also being absent. 



Young Birds. — Browner above than the adults, and with black- 

 ish margins to the feathers, which are greyish-brown rather 

 than bronzy ; the head and neck ashy-brown, with blackish 

 centres to the feathers ; sides of face, throat, and fore-neck 

 ashy-brown ; chin, upper throat, and sides of face dull white ; 

 rest of the under surface of the body white, the sides of the 

 body brown, as well as the under tail-coverts ; bill pale horn- 

 colour ; cere none; gular skin yellow; iris light green. 



The adult black plumage is gained apparently by a change 

 in the feather, the tip of which becomes gradually black or 

 brown, and this colour spreads by degrees over the whole 

 plumage. 



