452 WHIP-POOH-WILL. 



passes across the throat; breast and belly irregularly mottled 

 and streaked with black and yellow ochre: the legs and feet 

 are of a light purplish flesh colour, seamed with white; the 

 former feathered before, nearly to the feet; the two exterior 

 toes are joined to the middle one as far as the first joint by a 

 broad membrane; the inner edge of the middle claw is pecti- 

 nated, and from the circumstance of its being frequently found 

 with small portions of down adhering to the teeth, is. probably 

 employed as a comb to rid the plumage of its head of vermin, 

 this being the principal and almost only part so infested in all 

 birds. 



The female is about an inch less in length and in extent; the 

 bill, mustaches, nostrils, &c. as in the male. She differs in being 

 much lighter on the upper parts, seeming as if powdered with 

 grains of meal; and instead of the white on the three lateral tail 

 feathers, has them tipt for about three quarters of an inch with 

 a cream colour; the bar across the throat is also of a brownish 

 ochre; the cheeks and region of the eyes are brighter brownish 

 orange, which passes also to the neck, and is sprinkled with 

 black and specks of white; the streak over the eye is also lighter. 

 The young was altogether covered with fine down of a pale 

 brown colour; the shafts or rather sheaths of the quills bluish; 

 the point of the bill just perceptible. 



Twenty species of this singular genus are now known to na- 

 turalists; of these one only belongs to Europe, one to Africa, 

 one to New Holland, two to India, and fifteen to America. 



The present species, though it approaches nearer in its plu- 

 mage to that of Europe than any other of the tribe, differs from 

 it in being entirely without the large spot of white on the wing; 

 and in being considerably less. Its voice, and particular call, 

 are also entirely different. 



Farther to illustrate the history of this bird, the 

 notes are added, made at the, time of dissection. Body, 

 stript of the skin, less then that of the Wood Thrush; breast 

 bone one inch in length; second stomach strongly muscular, filled 

 with fragments of pismires and grasshoppers; skin of the bird 



