NATURAL HISTORY 35 



time the true external marks of sexual 

 difference were pointed out and finally 

 settled. 1 



Thus, while the sexes are alike in 

 general appearance, and it is impossible 

 to distinguish with any certainty between 

 cock and hen when on the wing, there 

 are certain constant and trustworthy 

 distinctions which may be easily recog- 

 nized on closer view, even among young 

 birds at the opening of the shooting 

 season. These marks of difference may 

 thus be shortly summarized : 



(1) Median and lesser wing coverts (the smaller 

 wing feathers towards the shoulder, covering the 

 base of the double row of flight feathers or 

 quills). 



(a) In the male. (6) In the female. 



Ground colour dark, Ground colour black, with 



blotched on the inner two or three wide-set buff 



web with chestnut ; stripe cross bars, in addition to 



of buff down each shaft, buff shaft stripe. 

 but no cross bars. 



1 Letters of Mr. Ogilvie Grant of the British Museum, 

 published in the Field, November 21, 1891, and April 9, 

 1892. 



