MISSEL THRUSH. 191 



with numerous black spots ; those on front of the neck 

 triangular in shape, with one angle pointing upwards ; the 

 spots on the breast, belly, and sides are round; under 

 surface of the wings and tail grey ; tarsi and toes pale 

 brown ; the claws dark brown. 



Males and females exhibit but little difference in size or 

 plumage. 



The whole length of the adult bird is about eleven inches. 

 From the carpal joint to the end of the wing, five inches 

 and three-quarters; the first wing-feather only one inch 

 long ; the second feather the same length as the fifth ; the 

 third and fourth feathers equal, and the longest in the wing. 



The young bird when about to leave the nest exhibits 

 a greater variety of markings on the upper surface of the 

 body than the parent birds ; the feathers on the head, 

 neck, upper part of the back, and smaller wing-coverts, 

 have a central stripe of buff, with a black spot at the tip ; 

 those of the greater coverts and tertials have broad ex- 

 ternal edges of rich buff. On the under surface the chin 

 is white ; the other parts tinged with fawn colour, and 

 marked with black spots. 



