200 GAME-BIRDS OF INDIA 



is a deep velvety black, often highly glossed, but the abdomen is less 

 glossy, and this and the under tail-covert§ are sometimes rather 

 dingy and brownish. Below the hind-neck and between this and 

 the back there is a broad band of white which descends as far as 

 the upper breast, often encroaching upon it for almost an inch on 

 either side. Upper plumage a sandy-buff, each feather with the 

 centre having a spear-shaped black or brownish-black patch, 

 margined with yellowish-sandy, the rest of the feather vermiculated 

 with black or brown. On the lower back the vermiculations are less 

 definite and the central marks obsolete, whilst on the central tail- 

 coverts their place is taken by definite cross-bars of deep brown. 

 Rectrices sandy-buff with a rufous tinge, finely vermiculated as on 

 the back and with four definite cross-bars of blackish-brown. 

 Scapulars like the back, but those nearest the shoulder-coverts more 

 or less freckled with white. Larger wing-coverts black, the hidden 

 portions of the inner webs freckled with white and brown ; remaining 

 median and lesser coverts, where visible, white ; the basal portion of 

 the secondary coverts freckled with brown and a few coverts next the 

 inner secondaries approximating these in colouration, but retaining 

 a great deal of white. First two, three, or in some cases four, 

 outermost primaries uniform brown ; the remainder with broad bars 

 of rufous-buff, these widening towards the secondaries. Outer 

 secondaries mottled brown and buff, sparsely freckled with white at 

 the tips, inner secondaries like the back, but with white freckling on 

 the edges near the coverts, and with the smallest feathers next the 

 scapulars marked with rufous-buff. 



The feathers of the upper throat are lengthened, those behind the 

 ear-coverts being greatly so, the three longest sometimes reaching as 

 much as five inches in length, and generally exceeding three and 

 a-half inches. As a rule, the three longest feathers are graduated, 

 and though in some cases they are subequal, there is nearly always 

 a great difference in length between these three feathers and the 

 others, which may vary between one and two inches. These feathers, 

 more especially the longer ones, are spatulate in shape. 



Colours of Soft Parts. — " The irides are dull-yellow, sometimes 

 very pale, sometimes brownish ; the legs pale, somewhat fleshy 

 yellow, sometimes hoary, sometimes more dusky ; the bill is pale- 



