122 GAME-BIRDS OF INDIA 



short, but broad, streak behind it over the ear-coverts buff, the 

 feathers next the buff darker than elsewhere on the head ; lores 

 grey-brown, very finely barred with black and more or less stippled 

 with white. Upper back and scapulars a more olive-brown with 

 patches of dark metallic olive-green, and the outer webs of the 

 scapulars buff, forming two lines down the sides of the back similar 

 to those in true snipes ; lower back, rump and upper tail-coverts a 

 vinous-grey, very narrowly barred with black, and with a few white 

 dots, the last-named also with buff' circular spots ; tail the same with 

 buff edges to the tips. Wing-coverts and inner secondaries metallic 

 olive-brown, finely barred with black and buff and with broad buff 

 bars and spots on the outer part of the wing ; quills blue- or vinous- 

 grey, finely barred with black, the outer primaries with broad 

 alternate bands of black and buff on the outer webs, the inner 

 primaries and secondaries with broad buff marks only, which become 

 oval spots on the inner secondaries. Chin and neck mottled brown 

 and white ; breast and flanks brown, the latter mottled with white 

 and the breast edged with dark brown next the abdomen, which, 

 with the under tail-coverts, is white ; a buff' or white band passes 

 up from the breast to form a shoulder girdle which connects with 

 the buff scapulary lines, the borders to this band are black or darker 

 brown than the adjoining parts. Under wing-coverts vermiculated 

 grey, black and white ; axillaries pure white, and there is a broad 

 white band formed by the tips of the median under wing- 

 coverts. 



Colours of Soft Parts.—" The legs and feet are generally greenish, 

 usually a pale yellowish-green, or greenish-yellow, often greyer and 

 duskier, or somewhat hoary on the joints and toes ; sometimes, how- 

 ever, they are a deep olive, sometimes pale bluish overlaid with a 

 greenish tinge, and sometimes simply dull pale green ; the claws are 

 brown, sometimes paler, sometimes darker. 



" The irides vary from hazel to very deep brown, and have some- 

 times a greenish or olive tinge. 



" The bill is very variable ; typically it is a pale fleshy-brown, 

 darker or purer brown towards the tip, and with a greenish tinge 

 towards the base ; it is subject, however, to a good deal of varia- 

 tion." (Hume.) 



