246 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



toes covered above with numerous small scales; hind 

 toes very short ; claws moderately long, curved and 

 concave beneath ; feathers compact, those of the head 

 and neck long and flexible, with a continuation taper- 

 ing to a crest on back of head ; on either side a tuft of 

 fine long hackles, covering a bare portion, which is 

 orange coloured in the males and dull brown in the 

 females; the wings short and much rounded; pin feathers 

 hard and short ; tail short and fan- like, composed of 

 eighteen broad feathers ; bill dusky ; iris yellow ; toes 

 dull yellow ; claws bluish ; the neck and upper portion 

 of back dark brown, mixed with grey, getting lighter 

 beneath ; tail dirty brown, tipped with white, except the 

 middle feathers, which are mottled with a deep brown ; 

 and a dark line from mandible to eye, thence back 

 to neck, and a beautiful patch of soft slate- coloured 

 feathers under each wing, invaluable to the fly-tier,- 

 is a correct description of their appearance. 



