158 GAME-BIRDS UF INDIA 



with black. The centre of the breast is generally nearly white, as is 

 the lower breast, and the bars are wider apart. Under the wing the 

 bulf extends down the breast for some two or more inches ; remainder 

 of under-parts, flanks and under wing-coverts white; some of the 

 feathers of the flanks with black shafts and here and there a black 

 spot. 



Male in Winter. — Eesembles the female but the vermiculations are 

 finer and the black markings less bold. The black crescentic marks 

 on the lower breast are also less defined and regular. 



Hartert says that the nuptial plumage is assumed in the spring by 

 a partial moult, afi'ecting only the body-plumage and neither wings 

 nor tail. 



Young. — " Generally distinguishable from the adult by the greater 

 amount of barring on the chest, by the more profuse barring on the 

 upper tail-coverts and the sandy f recklings of the primary-coverts." 

 (S^iarjje.) 



" The young birds of both sexes are like the adult female, except 

 that the outer webs of the first primary and the primary-coverts have 

 rusty markings." 



The Indian subspecies differs from the western form in being 

 rather darker on the upper side, less sandy and less reddish, espe- 

 cially on the upper wing-coverts ; the markings are as a rule some- 

 what coarser. 



Colours of Soft Parts. — " The colours of the soft parts vary a good 

 deal ; the legs and feet are yellow, dusky-yellow, greenish-yellow, the 

 feet often browner and dingier ; the bill is blackish, greeuish-black, 

 dusky-horny or brown, generally paler on culmen, and bluish-grey, 

 greenish or yellowish at the base, and the irides vary from light 

 yellow to orange." (Hume.) 



J. F. Naumann says the irides of the young are brownish-yellow. 



Measurements. — In this species, unlike Otis tarda, there is little 

 difference in size between the sexes, and whereas in that bird the 

 male greatly exceeds the female, in this the male averages but little 

 heavier or bigger. Hume says in regard to Indian birds, " I do not 

 find the sexes differ materially, although the males unquestionably 

 average rather larger and are perceptibly heavier." 



" The following are dimensions, etc., recorded of Indian speci- 



