UPLAND SHOOTING. 2G9 



close to the tip. Nasal groove broad, and extending to two- 

 thirds of the lengtli of the bill. Nostrils linear, lateral, sub- 

 nuili.il, pi'ivioiis. Lower mandible with the angle long and 

 narrou', llie sichis erect, the dorsal line sloping upward, the 

 edges inflected, the tip narrowed, the ga^) line straight. 



" TIead rather small, ol)long, com])rossed. Neck of irioderate 

 length. l)()ilv rarher sliMichn', niiicli compressed. Feet of mod- 

 erate lengtli, rathei- stout; tibia bare a short way above the 

 joint; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, anteriorly covered 

 with broad scutella, posteriorly with smaller, and on the sides 

 reticulated. Hind toe very sliort and slender, middle toe 

 longest, and longer than the tarsus, fourth considerably shorter 

 than the third, and a little longer than the second ; toes free, 

 scutellate above, much compressed, with an inferior sharp 

 margin. Claws rather long, exceedingly compressed, slightly 

 arched, tapering to a fine point, flat, and marginate beneath. 



" Plumage rather stiff, but blended, slightly glossed above. 

 Feathers of the forehead with the shaft enlarged and slightly 

 extended beyond the tip. Wings short and broad. Alula 

 large ; primaries curved, broad, tapering, but rounded, second 

 longest, third scarcely shorter, first equal to sixth ; secondaries 

 broad and rounded. Tail extremely short, much rounded, of 

 twelve feeble rounded feathers ; the upper and lower tail cov- 

 erts nearly as long as the tail feathers. 



" Bill, yellow at the base, dusky toward the end. Iris bright 

 chestnut. Feet yellowish-green ; claws light-brown. A broad 

 band surrounding the base of the bill, the central part of the 

 crown, the chin, and the fore-neck in its whole length, brown- 

 ish-black. Ear coverts olive-brown ; a band over the eye, the 

 cheeks and the sides of the neck ash-grey. Sides of the crown, 

 the hind-neck, and the rest of the upper parts olive-brown The 

 feathers brownish-black in the centre, those on the back with 

 two marginal lines of white. Smaller wing coverts of a lighter 

 brown; secondary coverts margined with black and white 

 markings ; quills dusky olive-brown, as is the tail. Middle of 

 breast and abdomen greyish-white ; sides barred with brownish 



