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724 JOURNAL, BOyi BAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETr, Vol. XXL 



basal portion of tlie secondary coverts freckled with brown and a 

 few coverts next the inner secondaries approximating these in 

 colouration, but retaining a great deal of white. First two, three, 

 ■or in some cases four outermost primaries uniform brown ; the 

 remainder with broad bars of rufous bnfF, these widening towards 

 the secondaries. Outer secondaries mottled brown and buff, 

 ■sparsely freckled with white at the tips, inner secondaries like the 

 'back but with white freckling on the edges near the coverts and 

 with the smallest feathers next the scapulars marked with rufous 

 buff. 



The feathers of the tipper throat are lengthened, those behind 

 the ear coverts being greatly so, the three longest sometimes 

 ireaching as much as 5" in length and generally exceeding 3V'. 

 As a rule the three longest feathers are graduated, and though in 

 rsome cases they are sub-ec|ual, there is nearly always a great 

 ■difference in length between these three feathers and the others 

 which maj^ var}^ between 1" and 2". These feathers, more 

 especially the longer ones, are spatulate in shape. 



Wing 7-1" to 8-05" ; tarsus o-35" to 3-75" ; bill at front 1-25" 

 ,to 1-5"; tail 3-25" to 4-5". 



" The irides are dull j^ellow, sometimes very pale, sometimes 

 brownish ; the legs pale, somewhat fleshy yellow, sometimes hoary, 

 ..sometimes more dusk}^ ; the bill is pale 3-ellow, somewhat fleshy 

 .towards gape, the ridge, tip and more or less of the upper surface 

 shaded with dusky heavy brown." (Hume). 



"Length 17-25" to 19"; expanse 27-5 to 32 ; wing (to end of 

 longest primary) 7*3 to 7*9 ; tail 4-1 to 4-5 ; tarsus 3*65 to 3*9 ; 

 ibill from gape 2-0 to 2-1. Weight 14 ozs. to 1 lb. 4 ozs. " 

 ^(Hume.) 



"Total length 15 inches, culmen 1-5, wing 7*9, tail 3-5, tai'sus 

 -3-5. (Sharpe). 



From the above measurements it will be seen that this Bustard 

 varies very considerably in size, but the measurements first given 

 include those of the whole of the British Museum series (some 

 85 birds), as well as many others which have passed through my 

 hands, so may be taken as shewing fairl}^ satisfactorily the range of 

 variation. The only bird of the British Musem series omitted from 



