98 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



short, quite rudimentary, in fact ; while the third 

 in each is the longest in the wing, \^ palustris 

 the second primary is equal to the fourth ; while 

 in strepera the second is equal to the fifth. It is 

 doubtful whether this can be invariably relied 

 upon, for the length of feathers, even in the 

 same species, will sometimes vary considerably, 

 through age, moult, or accident. 



The readiest means of distinguishing the two 

 birds at a glance will be by the colour of the 

 legs and toes. In living or freshly-killed speci- 

 mens it will be observed that the tarsi and feet 

 of strepera are of a slaty-brown colour, while in 

 palustris the same parts are flesh-colour. In 

 dried skins, the former turns to hair-brown ; the 

 latter to yellowish-brown. The tarsus of palus- 

 tris, moreover, is rather longer and stouter than 

 that of its congener. From this it appears that 

 Mr. Gould in his " Birds of Great Britain" has 

 figured palustris for strepera. 



Dr. Bree, in his " Birds of Europe," has un- 

 fortunately figured palustris with slate-coloured 

 legs and feet, which quite alters its appearance, 



