222 Manual of the Game Birds of India. 



primaries resemble those of the male. 

 The outer secondaries are ashy brown, 

 gradually turning to black, the whole of 

 them tipped with white, and the innermost 

 two or three black secondaries with a 

 small patch of metalHc green near the 

 base. The secondary following the black 

 ones is nearly entirely white on the outer 

 web. The remaining secondaries are 

 brown, edged with fulvous. 



The plumage of the females is subject 

 to variation caused by the wearing away 

 of the margins of the feathers and a 

 general fading of the plumage. In females 

 which are not quite adult there is no 

 trace whatever of metallic green on the 

 wing, and the outer secondaries are never 

 black. At all ages, however, there will 

 always be found the single inner secondary 

 with the white outer web. 



The sexes do not differ much in size, 

 but the male is generally a heavier bird 

 than the female. Length about 19 ; wing 

 about 10 ; tail 4 to \\. The bill is bluish 

 with a black tip ; the irides are brown ; 

 the legs and feet greyish brown. Weight 

 up to about i| lb. 



