634 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



alternately with dusky brown and white; under 

 surface of the tail-feathers dusky brown, with six or 

 seven narrow bars of dull white and a broad terminal 

 band of the same colour ; chin dusky ; throat dull 

 white ; across the upper part of the breast a broad 

 band of dull white; breast, belly and under tail- 

 coverts dull white, with numerous narrow transverse 

 bars of dusky brown ; under surface of tail-feathers 

 barred alternately with greyish brown and dull white ; 

 tail long ; tarsi and toes covered with short feathers 

 of greyish white ; claws white at the base, tipped 

 with bluish black. The whole length of the bird 

 about seventeen inches," but in this latter particular 

 there seems to be some variation, as the length given 

 in Mr. Newman's edition of Montagu's 4 Dictionary ' 

 is only fourteen and a half inches ; but perhaps this 

 may be accounted for by there being some difference 

 in the length of the tail-feathers, which are said to 

 be as much as seven and a half inches, and also in 

 difference of sex, as the female is said to be some- 

 what longer, and the plumage is lighter. 

 The eggs are white.* 



* Yarrell, vol. i., pp. 156, 157. 



