GRUID. 345 
very conspicuous, owing to its decided black and 
white colouring. The beak, which is long and 
strong, is deep orange; irides crimson; the head, 
neck, breast, back, scapulars, lesser wing-coverts, 
greater coverts of primaries and tertials are glossy 
black, except a small white spot under the eye; the 
lower part of the back, rump, tail-coverts, greater 
coverts of secondaries, belly, flanks, under tail- and 
wing-coverts are white ; the primary quills are black, 
with a long spot of white on the outer web; the 
secondary quills are white at the base and black at 
the tips, with a slight white edging; the tail-feathers 
are white at the base and black at the tips; the legs 
and toes purplish flesh-colour; claws black. The 
winter plumage only differs in having a white gorget 
on the side and front of the neck. The young birds 
of the year have the feathers of the back and wings 
margined with brown, and they do not obtain the 
white gorget during the first winter. 
The egg is yellowish drab, spotted all over with 
distinct black spots, something like tadpoles. 
Family Grouiw2. 
A second species of this family has lately been 
added to the list of British birds, but as only one 
capture has been recorded, and that not in these 
parts, we have nothing to do with it; and, indeed, it 
appears scarcely entitled to be called British at all. 
