SYPHEOTIS AUBITA 201 



yellow, somewhat lleshy towards gape, the ridge, tip and more or less 

 of the upper surface shaded with dusky, horny brown." (Hume). 



Measurements. — Wing 7'1 to 8'05 inches (= 180 to 204 mm.), 

 tarsus 3-35 to 3-75 {— 85 to 95 mm.), bill at front 1^25 to 15 

 (= 31-7 to 381 mm.), tail 3-25 to 4^5 (= 82-5 to 114-3 mm.). 



"Length 17"25 to 19 inches, expanse 27'5 to 32, wing (to end 

 of longest primary) 7'3 to 7'9, tail 4'1 to 4'5, tarsus 3'65 to 3'9, 

 bill from gape 20 to 2'1. Weight 14 ozs. to 1 lb. 4 ozs." (Hitme.) 



"Total length 15 inches, culmen 15, wing 7'9, tail 3"5, tarsus 3'5." 

 {Shaiye.) 



From the above measurements it will be seen that this bustard 

 varies very considerably in size, but the measurements first given 

 include those of the whole of the British Museum series (some 

 eighty-five birds), as well as many others which have passed through 

 my hands, so may be taken as showing fairly satisfactorily the range 

 of variation. The only bird of the British Museum series omitted 

 from the above measurements is an abnormally small bird with a 

 wing of only 6'85 inches (= 174 mm.). It may be noticed that I 

 have not given measurements either of length or expanse in 

 describing this or any other bird, but I have omitted these measure- 

 ments intentionally, as they depend far too much upon every 

 individual sportsman's way of measuring and the extent to which 

 wings and neck are stretched during the operation. 



Adult Female. — Forehead, crown, and occiput black, the feathers 

 more or less tipped with buff and the inner webs of the central 

 feathers also buff, forming a well-defined mesial streak ; lores, fairly 

 well-defined supercilium and post-orbital region buff with a few black 

 specks and a line of black specks running under the eye ; sides of 

 head and ear-coverts buff, immaculate, or with a few fine specks only ; 

 chin, throat, and sometimes the region below the ear-coverts white. 

 Posterior aspect of the neck buff, finely vermicnlated with black or 

 dark-brown, anterior aspect buff, with broad splashes of black forming 

 two broad streaks down to the breast ; sides of the neck next the 

 shoulders with similar streaks ; breast buff with bold black markings 

 and freckles, the latter often forming crescentic marks. Remainder 

 of lower parts buff, often almost white, the flanks more or less 

 freckled and barred with blackish and the innermost axillaries black. 



