GRALLATORES. 167 



a third person to go round and drive them, whilst 

 thej'' concealed themselves in a favourable position 

 under a bank where some overhanging bushes 

 formed a good screen. This plan had the desired 

 effect ; for the birds on being again disturbed came 

 right over them, and were both killed. I heard of 

 the occurrence the following day, and, ascertaining 

 that the birds had been sent to London for preserva- 

 tion, I traced them to the birdstuffer with whom 

 they had been left, and fortunately arrived in time 

 to see them before the}^ were skinned. I then care- 

 fully noted down the description and measurements 

 of each, and the same evening saw them skinned, 

 and ascertained the sexes by dissection. 



They proved, on examination, to be male and 

 female birds of the year. The bill was of a brownish 

 flesh- colour, darker towards the tip (the reverse of 

 what is seen in old birds), and in both specimens 

 was very soft and weak, that of the male bird being 

 the darker of the two. 



The chin and lore of both were completely bare ; 

 the former of a yellow and the latter of a greyish 

 colour. 



A remarkable feature was the tongue, so won- 

 derfully small in comparison with the length of bill : 

 in the two specimens under examination, the 

 tongue was not more than an eighth part of the entire 

 length of bill. There was no appearance of any 

 crest in either bird, nor could an}^ trace of buff- 



