JACK SKLPE. 23 



The eggs are four in number, and of a yellowish olive colour, 

 spotted about the larger end with two shades of brown. 



The apparent difference between this and the larger species, 

 is, at first sight, very trifling, in all but size, and the length 

 of the bill. Male; weight, about two ounces to two and a 

 quarter; length, a little over eight inches to eight and a half; 

 bill, greyish dusky; the tip darker, the base pale yellowish red, 

 with a bloom of grey; it is about two inches long; from it 

 a broad cream-coloured or pale brown streak extends over the 

 eye and down the nape, with a narrow darker one along the 

 middle line of the hinder part, and as far as the eye is a space 

 of pale yellowish brown; iris, dusky dark brown. Head on the 

 sides, greyish or brownish white, with the tips of the feathers 

 black, giving it a sort of neutral tint; on the crown, rich dark 

 blackish brown, the feathers edged with rufous brown, in 

 winter changed to grey; it is bordered on each side with a 

 yellowish streak, beneath which is a dusky one; neck on the 

 back and nape, ferruginous, or greyish brown, varied with dusky 

 brown. Chin and throat, white, or greyish, or pale brownish 

 white; breast above, pale yellowish brown, tinged with grey, 

 and spotted with dusky; below, white, and on the sides dashed 

 with greyish black, and tinted with brown; back, rich dark 

 blackish brown in waves, with olive bronze and purple 

 reflections, the feathers narrowly tipped with white, and broadly 

 margined with pale dull yellow; in winter it becomes more 

 grey. The scapular feathers are long, and with their outer 

 webs of a rich cream yellow form two conspicuous bands along 

 each side. 



The wings have the first quill the longest. The axillary 

 feathers are white, clouded irregularly with blackish grey; 

 greater and lesser wing coverts, dusky black, the feathers 

 narrowly edged with pale brown and white; primaries, dusky 

 black; secondaries also dusky black, but the tips pointed with 

 white; tertiaries, brownish black; spotted and streaked in 

 waves with rich reddish brown, and edged with pale greyish 

 white. The tail, of twelve pointed feathers, is dusky greyish 

 or brownish black, edged with very pale ferruginous or- rufous; 

 it is of a wedge shape; upper tail coverts, brown, edged with 

 buff; under tail coverts, white. Legs and toes, dark greenish 

 or greyish brown; claws, black. 



The female is larger than the male, and her colours not 

 so bright. 



The young birds want the brilliant green and purple 



