84 The Andamans and Nicohrs. — V. Ball. 



I have no doubt as to the correctness of the identification of 

 the Andaman specimen, the more particularly as I had an oppor- 

 tunity of comparing it with a specimen of Mi. asiaticus obtained 

 in Abyssinia by Mr. Blanford. 



"Adult in summer. — Bill black, moderately long, slender. 

 Crown and upper portion of the back and wings hair-brown. 

 Forehead, eyelids, and chin, pure white. Eyebrows, and sides 

 of the face and neck, buff; the latter colour extending round the 

 nape and separating the hair-brown of the crown from that of 

 the back. Across the breast a broad rufous band, the lowest 

 feathers of which are terminated by a slight edging of dark 

 umber-brown ; thence to the extremities of the under tail- 

 coverts pure white ; the shafts o£ the others brown. Secondaries 

 long, reaching almost to the end of the primaries. Axillaries 

 smoke-grey. Tail long, the outer web of the outermost rectrix 

 white; its inner web dusky. In the second rectrix both webs 

 dusky, the inner one darker. The rest of the rectrices getting 

 darker as they approach the middle ; the two middle the darkest 

 and somewhat longer thau the others. Legs long and slender ; 

 a considerable portion of the tibia bare. Toes three ; the middle 

 and outer toe connected at their base by a slight membrane ; legs 

 and toes yellowish-ochreous. 



"Young. — Crown, back, and upper portion of the wings greyish- 

 brown, each feather margined with buff. Forehead, eyebrows, 

 chin, sides of face and neck, buff ; this colour extending in the 

 form of a collar round the neck. The pectoral band not well 

 defined; but a cloudy patch of pale buflry-brown, extending 

 across the breast, becomes gradually paler above and below, as it 

 approaches the chin and vent. Primaries and axillaries as in 

 the adult ; secondaries broadly edged with buff. Legs and toes 

 dull yellowish-brown.''^ 



The adult in winter plumage is supposed to resemble the 

 young, such being the case with Eu. asiaticus. Dimensions ; — ■ 

 Total length 8*5 inches ; bill 1 ; wing 6-5 ; bare portion of 

 tibia "8; tarsus 1-8; middle toe '9. 



Our Andaman specimen, shot in May, is a fully grown bird in 

 this immature or winter plumage. It is more or less buffy 

 below, approaching to pure white on the under tail-coverts. It 

 has the shafts of the first two primaries white, while those of 

 Eu. asiaticus, as pointed out by Mr. Harting, are dusky."^ Its 

 dimensions are as follows : — 



Length 83; wing 6'4; bill "9; tarsus 1'8 ; uncovered portion 

 of tibia -9. 



* Tn E. asiaticus, the shafts are all mesiiilly luhite, vide ante p. 17; where 

 " mesially " is misprinted •' usually." 



