44 EGYPTIAN SPURWING. 



nut, becoming of a deeper colour on the lower part : 

 the upper parts of the back and the scapulars are of 

 a brownish-red, crossed with numerous dusky lines : 

 the back and rump are black : the lower part of the 

 neck in front, the breast, sides, and thighs are very 

 pale rufous, crossed with numerous dusky lines, and 

 over the breast is a large deep chesnut-coloured spot : 

 the belly is white : the under tail-coverts yellowish : 

 the wing-coverts are white : the greater ones nearest 

 the body crossed with black at the ends, and those 

 farthest from it entirely black : the greater quills are 

 black, and all, except the five first, edged with green 

 gold : the secondaries are edged with chesnut : the 

 spur on the bend of the wing is half an inch in length : 

 the tail is coloured the same as the primaries : the 

 legs are red : the claws dusky. The female has the 

 chesnut patch round the eyes much smaller : the chin 

 white : the chesnut patch on the breast smaller, or 

 sometimes wanting : the lesser wing-coverts white, 

 the others pale ash-colour, with darker margins ; the 

 lower ones fringed with white, forming a bar on the 

 wing : the scapulars and secondaries are tinged with 

 chesnut. 



Inhabits various parts of Africa, especially Egypt 

 and the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope ; from 

 whence they have been introduced into this country, 

 and are frequently reared on the estates of the gentry 

 on account of their beauty ; but have always a pro- 

 pensity to fly away. They are much attached to 

 their young. 



