106 BITTERIT. 



back of the head varied with cross bars of black and pale 

 buff, the latter colour on the tip, itself again minutely edged 

 with black; sides of the head, brownish buff. Neck on the 

 sides, brownish buff, with narrow transverse lines of dark 

 brown; the feathers are lengthened and fold over the back 

 part, which is only covered with thick down; they are also 

 capable of being set forward, and then assume the appear- 

 ance of a ruff; neck on the back, and the nape, rich 

 brownish buff, irregularly marked with black and dark reddish 

 brown. Chin, pale buff white; throat on the centre, pale 

 brown; the breast has the feathers blackish brown in their 

 centres, broadly margined with buff, the lower part buff 

 with narrow and some wider streaks of dark brown. Back, 

 yellowish brown buff on the centres of the feathers, forming 

 streaks, the outside edges black. 



The wings have the four first feathers of about the same 

 length, and, at the same time, the longest in the wing; 

 primaries, mottled with greyish or brownish black and chesnut 

 brown, darker red than on the body. Tail, reddish brown, 

 darker red than on the body, variegated with black; it is 

 composed of ten feathers and is very short. The legs, which 

 are thick, short, and feathered down to within half an inch 

 or three quarters of an inch of the knee, are as the toes 

 pale green; the latter are very pliable. The claws, which 

 are very long and sharp, pale horn-colour, the middle one 

 pectinated. 



The female differs in no essential respect from the male. 



The same remark applies to the young of the year. At 

 first they are covered with an orange yellow down. 



