482 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



to rufous-buff tips, varying considerably in size being in some 

 individuals very conspicuous and in others scarcely noticeable ; 

 median and lesser coverts olive-brown. This plumage is acquired 

 by complete moult in July-Sept. Summer. No moult. Abrasion 

 makes upper-parts somewhat paler and red of breast less rich. 



Nestling. Down sooty-black, long and fairly plentiful. 

 Distribution, inner and outer supra -orbital, occipital, spinal and 

 humeral (occasionally filaments on ulnar). Mouth inside yellow, 

 no spots ; externally flanges whitish-yellow. 



Juvenile. Feathers of upper-parts, lores and ear-coverts 

 buff with edgings and tips, varying in width, dark brown, giving 

 a spotted appearance ; rump and upper tail-coverts more rufous- 

 buff, feathers with narrower dark brown tips ; narrow ring round 

 eye buff ; chin, throat and sides of belly buff, feathers narrowly 

 edged brown ; breast and flanks deeper buff and brown edgings 

 wider ; centre of belly huffish-white faintly speckled with brown ; 

 under tail-coverts, axillaries and under wing-coverts buff ; tail, 

 primaries, secondaries and primary-coverts as adult ; greater 

 coverts as adult but the inner feathers also with buff tips and buff 

 tips to all usually paler than in adult ; median and lesser wing- 

 coverts as rest of upper -parts. 



First uiinter and summer. As adults. Buff tips of innermost 

 secondaries and greater wing-coverts vary so much in individuals 

 that they do not form any certain guide to age. The juvenile body- 

 feathers, lesser and median wing-coverts and inner greater coverts 

 are moulted June-Sept., but not wing- and tail-feathers, primary- 

 coverts nor rest of greater coverts. 



Measurements and structure. <$ wing 71-76 mm., tail 55-61, 

 tarsus 24.5-27, bill from skull 13.5-15 (12 measured). $ wing 69-74. 

 Primaries : Ifet 9-12 mm. longer than primary-coverts, 4th and 5th 

 longest, 2nd 8-13 shorter, 3rd 1-3 shorter, 6th .5-2 shorter, 7th 5-8 

 shorter ; 3rd to 6th emarginated outer webs. Secondaries about 

 equal 10th primary, tips slightly rounded. Tail fairly square, 

 12 feathers, tips somewhat pointed and sharply sloped off, giving 

 tip of tail when spread slightly forked appearance. Bill fairly 

 strong, tip of upper mandible slightly curved and projecting beyond 

 lower. Nostrils partially covered by membrane. Some fine and 

 short nasal bristles and a few fairly long rictal bristles. Usually 

 a few long filoplumes on nape projecting beyond rest of contour 

 feathers. 



Soft parts. Bill dark olive-brown, paler at base of lower 

 mandible ; legs and feet brown ; iris very dark brown. 



FIELD -CHARACTERS. Adults identified by uniform olive-brown 

 upper -parts, and bright orange-red fore-head, throat and breast, 

 but juveniles have no red in their coloration which is ochreous- 

 brown spotted and streaked with buff. Trustful almost domesti- 

 cated nature, dapper appearance and characteristic poses and 



