LITTLE BITTEBtf, 111 



The wings have the first three quill feathers very nearly 

 equal in length, and the longest; the axillary plume is white; 

 greater and lesser wing coverts, dull yellowish buff; primaries, 

 dusky, or greyish black; greater and lesser under wing coverts, 

 white, or pale buff. Upper tail coverts, black, with green 

 reflections; under tail coverts, whitish; the legs are clothed 

 with feathers to, or nearly to, the knee joint; the unfeathered 

 part and the toes, light yellowish green; the soles yellow; 

 claws, dusky; the middle one is serrated on the inner side. 



Female. John Henry G-urney, Esq., and William Kichard 

 Fisher, Esq., of Yarmouth, in their 'Account of the Birds 

 found in Norfolk,' observe, 'From an inspection of the specimens 

 obtained from time to time in this district, we incline to the 

 opinion, that if the females of this species ultimately arrive 

 at a plumage similar to that of the adult males, as is asserted 

 by modern naturalists, it is only at a much more advanced 

 period than that at which the same plumage is assumed by 

 the latter; and it appears quite certain that the female, in 

 the supposed immature plumage, pairs with the adult male.' 



The young in its first plumage, while yet some of the 

 down remains upon it, has the head on the crown dark brown; 

 the feathers of the neck white at the base, pale yellowish 

 brown towards the end, with a streak of dark brown in the 

 line of the shaft, which dark marks wear out by degrees. 

 Breast, pale buff, with long streaks of dusky brown in the 

 line of the feathers, which also gradually become obliterated; 

 back, dark brown, with buff-coloured edges to the feathers, 

 which are lost as the bird advances in age. Greater and 

 lesser wing coverts, buff; primaries, greyish black; tertiaries, 

 reddish brown; greater and lesser under wing coverts, pale 

 buff white. Tail, greyish black, the outer web of the first 

 quill feather chesnut; under tail coverts, pale buff white* 

 Legs, toes, and claws, reddish brown. In the young bird, in 

 the more advanced stage, the bill is yellowish brown. The 

 crown is blackish green; neck on the sides reddish brown; in 

 front, yellowish brown. The throat has a spot of white on 

 each side; breast above, deep red brown, with a glossy lustre, 

 the feathers margined with yellowish white; below, yellowish 

 white, streaked with brown; back, chesnut brown; the 

 feathers margined with yellowish white. Tail, blackish green ; 

 legs, pale olive brown. 



The plate is taken from a beautiful drawing by John 

 Gatcombe, Esq., of Plymouth. 



