THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 421 



present. The black coronal streak varies from a narrow central 

 line to one so broad that it takes up practically the whole crown. 

 The amount of black on the upper breast is much more extensive 

 in some specimens than in others, and some individuals are again 

 much more rufous below on the flanks and abdomen. 



Colours of Soft Parts,— Bill black, the lower mandible horny at 

 the base ; irides reddish brown, hazel brown or dark brown ; eyelids 

 dull greenish or livid green ; legs dull orange-yellow to yellowish 

 or reddish brown, varying a good deal in the brightness of tints, 

 and assuredly brighter in the breeding season than at other times ; 

 claws dark horny or jDurplish brown. 



Gates describes the legs of one specimen as " clear orange- 

 yellow,'' 



Measurements. — Chinese birds average a good deal bigger thars 

 Burmese, Yunnan and Hainan birds, but I can see no other differen- 

 ces but this of size which hardly suffices to create a new race. 



Length about 12 to 14 inches ; wing 132 to 161 mm. ; bill from 

 front 23 to 27 mm. and from gape 25 to 28 mm. ; tarsus 44-45 mm. 



Chinese (and Mauritius) birds vary in wing measurement from 

 147 to 161 mm., only one bird having a wing under 150, whilst the 

 average of 20 birds is 153 mm. 



30 specimens from Burma, Siam, Yunnan, Annam and Hainan 

 vary in their wings between 132 and 151 mm. ; only one bird exceed- 

 ing 150, and the average is 144*6 mm. 



Siam birds are the smallest, running from 132 to 147, and averag- 

 ing only 140'2 mm. 



Adult Female.— Head like that of the male but duller, and the 

 white replaced with dull rufous white ; upper back blackish with 

 small white ocelli and pale brown edges to all the feathers ; lower 

 back, rump and upper tail-coverts blackish with narrow rufous- 

 white or rufous bars, and profuse brown freckling ; on the upper tail- 

 coverts this freckling covers the whole feather except for the pale 

 bases and a dark edging to the same. Below white, changing to 

 pale rufous fulvous on flanks, vent and abdomen with bars of 

 blackish-brown, numerous on f oreneck and upper breast and decreas- 

 ing towards the abdomen and thigh-coverts ; the chin and throat 

 are occasionally sparsely speckled with black. 



There is considerable individual variation in colour. Above the 

 amount of rufous varies from practically nil to a considerable 

 amount on scapulars and inner secondaries. Below the colour 

 varies in depth from almost white to a clear bright rutous. 



Colours of Soft Parts.-Similav to the same in the male, but 

 duller ; the legs are generally paler and more yellow. 



Measurements. -Wing from 137 to 151 f^^^-'/Yf'^^^f f,;* 

 The Chinese birds average about 9 mm. more than the Burmese, etc. 



