230 



(EDICNEMID^. 



side tail-feathers shorter than those in the middle. The 

 chin and throat white ; the neck and breast pale brownish- 

 white, each feather streaked along the centre with blackish- 

 brown ; belly, sides, and flanks almost white, with long 

 narrow longitudinal streaks ; vent and under tail-coverts 

 bufify-white, without streaks ; legs and toes yellow ; the 

 claws almost black. 



The whole length is seventeen inches. The wing from 

 the carpal joint to the end, nine inches and three-quarters ; 

 the first and second quill-feathers nearly'equal in length, 

 and the longest in the wing. 



The plumage in the two sexes is nearly similar. 



In young birds the markings of the plumage are less 

 distinct, and the cedematous swelling at the joints, which 

 has originated the name Thicknee, is then apparent, but 

 afterwards disappears. In the nestling the upper parts are 

 stone-buff with brown lines ; a dark stripe down the centre 

 of the crown, and similar stripes from the neck to the rump 

 and along the sides ; under parts pale buff ; legs bluish-grey. 



The breast-bone of this species is here figured. 



