84 CAPERCAILZIE. 



with brownish -grey, and have the tips of each 

 white; the tail is black, marked at about two 

 inches from the extremity with broken white 

 patches, which form a wavy interrupted band 

 across ; the breast is bright, shining greenish- 

 black, shaded with purplish reflections on the sides, 

 the feathers, of a very fine and close texture, and 

 presenting a surface that would turn ordinary shot 

 striking it directly ; the belly and other parts of the 

 under surface are glossy black, in the centre inter- 

 spersed with patches of white ; on the sides and 

 flanks the feathers have the grey or brownish-grey 

 ground colour, freckled with black ; the tarsi are 

 feathered with brownish-grey plumes, very much 

 elongated behind, and approaching to the loose 

 texture of those in the true moorfowl ; they are 

 double the length of the hind toe, which they 

 completely conceal. 



The females appear to vary considerably in size. 

 One procured in the same cargo which contained 

 the above described male, is only from two to 

 three and twenty inches in length, and would not 

 sit more than seventeen inches high. The general 

 appearance of i he markings are similar to those of 

 the grey hen, ochreous-brown, barred with black, 

 but the colours are clearer, the barring broader 

 and more distinct, the edges of the feathers being 

 always paler; the centre of the breast, where the 

 rich green of the male is seen, is of a uniform tint 

 of rich brownish-orange, in parts slightly marked 

 with freckles, where the bars are placed. The 



