ORTOLAN. 63 



aries dusky, with a very narrow light-coloured outer margin, 

 in some examples rufous in others yellow ; tertials and 

 larger wing-coverts blackish-brown with broad rufous or 

 ochreous edges ; upper tail-coverts wood-brown with obscure 

 dusky streaks ; tail-quills blackish-brown, the middle pair 

 broadly and the rest narrowly edged with ochreous, and the 

 two * outer pairs with an oblique white patch on the inner 

 web ; the chin and throat yellowish-green, in some examples 

 passing into olive-grey on the upper part of the breast, in 

 others only becoming paler, with dusky arrow-headed spots ; 

 the rest of the lower parts reddish-buff, deepest on the breast 

 and palest near the vent ; flanks tinged with wood-brown ; 

 inner wing-coverts and axillaries, pale greyish-white, often 

 tinged with yellow, and the former mottled with dusky : 

 legs, toes and claws, pale brownish-orange. 



The whole length is six inches and one quarter. From 

 the carpal joint to the end of the wing, three inches and a 

 half : the second, third and fourth primaries nearly equal, 

 and the longest in the wing ; the fifth considerably shorter 

 than the fourth. 



The female usually has the head greyer, and more dis- 

 tinctly streaked with brown ; immediately behind the nostril 

 is a pale ochreous patch ; the chin and throat paler, with a 

 distinct line of dusky spots running from the base of the 

 lower mandible on each side ; the upper part of the breast 

 clouded and mottled with dusky brown, and the reddish- 

 buff below, as well as the tints of the plumage generally, 

 less vivid ; but other females are said to differ but little, 

 except in paler coloration, from some of the males. 



Young birds of the year resemble the female in her 

 ordinary plumage, but the yellow tints on the head seem to 

 be brighter, and the spots on the breast are more distinct. 



* Mr. Borrer's specimen, above mentioned, was said to have Lad the three 

 outer pairs so marked. Unfortunately it has since been accidentally destroyed. 



