308 GAME-BIRDS OF INDIA 



width towards the innermost primary ; secondaries brown, narrowly 

 edged with butf on the outer webs at the ends and gradually 

 changing in colouration until the innermost are like the scapulars, 

 but always with yellow-ochre, or chrome-yellow, not buff tip ; below 

 the grey of the lower throat and breast gradually changes on the 

 breast to a beautiful isabelline, purer and more pink than on the 

 back, and covering breast, flanks and abdomen, except the centre of 

 the latter, which is black ; under tail-coverts white or pale-buff with 

 brown bases showing through ; axillaries very pale buff, lesser under 

 wing-coverts buff, primary-coverts brown ; central tail-feathers like 

 the back, but produced into two long " pins " or filaments, which are 

 dusky-black ; outer tail-feathers brown with broad white tips, each 

 succeeding pair having broader tips than the last ; feathers of 

 tarsus buff. 



The range of variation in the colouration of this bird is not 

 great ; the upper parts are always isabelline, sometimes rather 

 darker, sometimes rather lighter ; rarely there is a vinaceous tinge 

 in the back and scapulary region, and more rarely still there is a 

 faint rufous tinge here ; the scapulars themselves may be tipped buff 

 or chrome-yellow, and the extent and richness of these spots is the 

 most variable feature in the upper plumage. In a few birds the crown 

 is rather richer and more vinous than the rest of the upper parts. 



Below the general tone varies to the same extent as above, and 

 the richness of the yellow on the throat is sometimes wanting, the 

 chin being somewhat albescent and the rest very pale ; the extent of 

 black on the abdomen is generally about the same, but the colour is 

 often more a chocolate-brown than a black, and a pure rich black is 

 seldom seen. 



Colours of Soft Parts. — " Irides brown ; bare orbital skin yellowish ; 

 bill pale plumbeous bluish-grey or bluish-white, always somewhat 

 more dusky towards the tip ; feet pale-plumbeous or bluish-white, 

 paler towards the upper surface of the toes, and whitish on scales." 

 (Hume.) 



" Bill bluish-grey, iris brown, upper eyelid saffron-yellow, feet 

 dull bluish-grey with blackish claws." {Pitman.) 



In some specimens the orbital skin has a tinge of green, though 

 this is rare, and in some it is a pure pale lemon. 



