RARER BRITISH BIRDS. 41 



sides of the neck, spotted, from the dark centres of the feathers 

 occupying a larger surface than upon the anterior portion of 

 the under surface of the wing ; rufous, brown, outer portion 

 spotted; under wing coverts, pure white; shafts of the pri- 

 maries or their under surface, pearl white ; outer web, dusky ; 

 inner web, dusky, and plain on the part nearest the shaft, 

 the other inner half of the web beautifully mottled with dark 

 specks; secondaries, mottled at their bases, and ending in 

 sabre-shaped points, presenting a series of lines, alternating 

 white, black, and dusky ; thighs, bare for half an inch ; tarsi, 

 one inch and a quarter in length ; middle toe, seven-eighths 

 of an inch in length ; nails, black ; legs, brown ; length, eight 

 inches. 



