304 RICHARDSON'S JAGER. 



Head rather small, oblong, much narrowed before. Neck of moderate 

 length. Body rather slender. Feet rather short, and of moderate strength ; 

 tibia bare at its lower part ; tarsus anteriorly covered with broad decurv- 

 ed scutella, on the sides with oblong scales, behind with smaller oblong 

 prominent scales ; hind toe extremely small and elevated, the fore toes of 

 moderate size, connected by reticulated webs, which have their margins 

 convex ; the third toe longest, the fourth a little shorter, the second con- 

 siderably shorter ; all covered above with numerous scutella, the lateral 

 ones margined externally with small prominent scales directed forwards. 

 Claws of moderate size, curved, acute, compressed, that of third toe with 

 a sharp inner edge. 



The plumage in general is close, elastic, soft, and blended ; the fea- 

 thers on the back and wings rather compact and distinct. Wings very 

 long, rather broad, pointed ; primary quills tapering and rounded, the 

 first longest, the rest rapidly graduated ; secondary rather short, obliquely 

 rounded. Tail feathers of moderate length, excepting the two middle, 

 which extend beyond the rest and taper to a point, the other feathers 

 broad and rounded, there being twelve in all. 



Bill greyish-black, the upper part bluish. Iris brown. Legs and feet 

 black. The general colour of the plumage is of a sooty brown, the upper 

 part of the head, the primary quills, and the tail darker, the breast and 

 abdomen lighter ; the shafts of the primary quills white, of the tail feathers 

 brownish. 



Length to end of tail 18^ inches, to end of wings 17 ; extent of wings 

 40; wing from flexure 12|; tail 8|, the middle feathers 2| longer than 

 the rest; bill along the back 1^^, along the edge of lower mandible 1| ; 

 tarsus li*2 ; middle toe l/j, its claw j\. 



Young Bird in September. Plate CCLXXII. Fig. 2. 



Bill light blue, dusky at the end. Iris brown. Tarsi and basal por- 

 tion of the toes and webs light blue, the rest black. The general colour 

 of the plumage is sooty brown, lighter on the neck and lower parts ; the 

 feathers of the back are all tipped with whitish, and the breast, sides, lower 

 wing-coverts, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, are undulatingly barred 

 with pale greyish-yellow. 



Length to end of tail 15^ inches, to end of wings 13|, to end of claws 

 13;^ ; wing from flexure 11^ ; tail 6^, the middle feathers only | longer 

 than the rest ; bill along the back 1| ; tarsus I4 ; middle toe and claw 

 1. Weight 7 oz. 



