974 



The Zoologist — November, 18G7. 



Wings : all the quill-feathers with white 

 shafts. 



Tertial feathers do not reach within a 

 quarter of an inch of end of primaries. 



Tail : three outer feathers on each side 

 all pale gray: no white. 



Wings: first quill-feather with white 



shaft; all the other feathers with dusky 



shafts. 

 Tertial feathers reach to very near the 



end of primaries. 

 Tail : three outer feathers on each side 



almost white ; the first outside white, 



with a faint dusky spot on the outer 



web; the second white, with a narrow 



dusky streak on outer web; the third 



white, with broad dusky streak on 



outer web. 



Although Temminck's stint assumes a more varied plumage in 

 summer and the little stint a more uniform colour in winter, the differ- 

 ence in the wing and tail-feathers, as pointed out above, will be at all 

 times a sufficient guide in determining the species. 



Little Crake and Baillons Crake. — Pass we now to the crakes. 

 The little crake in general colouring approaches the water rail, while 

 Baillon's crake more nearly resembles the spotted crake. Bearing 

 this in mind we may determine the species of either of these little 

 rarities without the necessity of a reference or comparison. Yarrell 

 says that the little crake exhibits but a few while marks on the centre 

 of the back, and sometimes on the scapulars, but never on the wing- 

 coverts ; in Baillon's crake, on the contrary, these white marks are very 

 numerous, occupying several distinct situations, namely, the central 

 space on the back, the scapulars, wing-coverts and tertial feathers on 

 both sides. The colour of the bill is the same in both species, being 

 pale green and red at the base ; so also is that of the eye, crimson-red. 

 The colour of the legs, however, differs in each, those of the little crake 

 being light green, and those of Baillon's crake being flesh-colour. 



Gray Geese. — The following table will suggest the readiest means 

 of distinguishing the four species of British gray geese : — 



SrEciEs. 

 Graylag Goose 

 Bean Goose . 



Pink footed Goose . 



Whitefronted Goose 



Bill. 

 Flesh-colour; nail while. 

 Orange; nail, edges and 



base black. 

 Pink ; nail and base black. 



Pink; nail and base white; 

 forehead white. 



Legs. 

 Flesh-colour. 

 Orange. 



Pink, tinged with vermilion, 



like Egyptian Goose. 

 Orange. 



Swans. — A wild swau may always be known from a tame one by 

 its having the colours of the bill reversed ; that is to say, a wild swan 



