liAFILA ACUTA '217 



grading on the one hand into the rich brown of the head and on the other 

 into tlie grey of the hind-neck ; the grey formed by the most minute 

 stipplings of brown and pale grey, gradually changing into more pronounced 

 stipplings and bars on the upper plumage, which retains the same colour ; 

 a white band on either side of the nape joining the white of the neck. 

 Rump like the back ; upper tail coverts black, edged grey ; neck and breast 

 white ; abdomen the same, but more or less stippled with grey on the lower 

 l)arts ; flanks and sides like back. Longer scapulars velvety-black edged 

 with silver-grey ; shorter scapulars like the back, but often with dark 

 centres ; wing-coverts brownish-grey, the greater tipped with rufous-chestnut; 

 secondaries forming the speculum In'onze-green, tipped white, sub-tipped 

 black, the feather next the speculum black, on the outer web narrowly 

 tipped white and with a line of the same next the quill, inner web brownish- 

 grey ; remaining inner secondaries grey on the outer webs, black edged 

 with grey on the inner webs. The central rectrices black, the other rectrices 

 grey-brown ; lower tail-coverts black, except the exterior ones, which are 

 white ; the flanks next the tail-coverts are white, more or less tinged buff, 

 and with vermiculations fainter than those on the rest of the flanks. 



Measurements.— Length about 26 inches, depending on length of tail- 

 feathers, which vary from •I'o inches to full length, central rectrices 9 inches 

 long, wing lO'u to ll'o, tarsus I'-'j to 1'75, bill from gape and from front 

 about 2'25. 



" Length of male 22 to 29 inches, tail 5 to S'5, wing 11, tarsus I'G, bill 

 from gape 2'25." (Blanford.) 



" Expanse 32'0 to 3775 inches, wing 10'3 to 11'75, tail from vent 4'8 to 

 9"4, tarsus 1'5 to I'S, bill from gape 2'0 to 2'4. Weight 1 lb. 10 ozs. to 

 2 lbs. 12 ozs." illume.) 



Colours of soft parts.— Irides dark-brown, often tinged red ; bill light to 

 dark plumbeous, the culmen, lower mandible, and base darker, almost black. 

 Legs and feet dark plumbeous-grey or blackish ; webs, claws and joints 

 darker. 



" In the adult male the Ijill is plumbeous, light-plumbeous, or lavender- 

 l)lue, with the entire lower mandible, a broad band along the entire culmen, 

 the angle at the base of the upper mandible, and a strip along the margin of 

 its terminal half black. 



In some apparently adult males I liave noted the feet as brownish- 

 black, blackish-grey, and uniform dusky." {Hume.) 



" Legs blue; irides brown ; bill black, blue at sides." (Vidal.) 

 Legs very pale yellowish flesh-colour, variegated with shades of 

 purplish-brown, darker tint of last on the nail and web-membranes." 

 {Sinnhoc) 



Post-nuptial plumage.— " The drake moults all feathers except the 

 primaries, secondaries, wing-coverts, and six pairs of outer rectrices at the 

 end of June, and assumes plumage very like that of the female, the usual 

 male plumage being resumed by a complete moult in October." (Dluii/ord.) 



