136 THE BOOK OF MIGRATORY BIRDS 



throat, springs an ample ruff, which can be displayed at 

 pleasure; the chin and below the eyes shading into orange- 

 brown, which deepens in shade towards the terminal end 

 of the ruff, where it becomes lustrous greyish-black; the 

 occiput and neck succeeding the ruff are chestnut-red and 

 brownish-black intermixed; the back of the neck, upper 

 parts, and wings are blackish-brown, darker on the back, 

 and therewith slight greenish reflections ; secondaries 

 white; the back of the neck tinted with grey; the fore part 

 of the neck below the ruff, breast, belly, and vent, silvery 

 white; sides of the breast and flank, dashed with brown 

 and chestnut. 



It is noticed that the young birds want the ruff and the 

 deeper rufous tints in the plumage, and it used to be 

 considered that these were the distinctions of the nuptial 

 dress, but in specimens kept by the Ornithological Society 

 the ruff has been retained throughout the year in one or 

 two instances. 



It would be exceedingly interesting to know 7 at what age 

 this bird retains a permanent set of plumes. 



