BAY-BIRDS. 161 
never pauses or seems to notice them; and for this 
reason, in spite of its epicurean recommendations, 
it is generally neglected. In the cool days of Sep- 
tember and October, when the mosquitoes have suc- 
cumbed in a measure to the frost, its pursuit over 
the open meadows is pleasant and exhilarating. It 
is often killed to the number of eighty in a day, and 
is so fat that its body is absolutely round. 
“* Specific Character.—Bill straight, base orange- 
green; length of tarsi one inch and one-sixteenth ; 
upper parts brownish-black, edged with reddish- 
brown; throat white; fore part of neck and upper 
part of the breast light brownish-grey, streaked with 
dusky ; rest of lower parts, including the lower tail- 
coverts, white. Adult with the bill straight; top 
of the head dark-brown, intermixed with black ; 
sides of the head, neck, and a large portion of the 
breast, greyish-brown, streaked with dusky; chin 
white ; a streak of dark brown before the eye, con- 
tinuing to the nostril, directly above a faint line of 
white; back dark-brown; feathers margined with 
white; primary quills dark-brown—shaft of the first 
white ; outer secondaries slightly edged with white ; 
tail-feathers brown, margined with brownish-white 
—two middle feathers darker, longest, and more 
pointed ; lower part of the breast, abdomen, and 
sides of the body and under tail-coverts white ; feet 
dull yellow; tibia bare, about half the length. 
Female, the general plumage lighter. Length nine 
inches and a half, wing five and a quarter.”— 
Giraud. 
