547 



a little moss or a few grass bents. A nest which I possess consists of a little moss matted 

 together with down, the latter being of a dark sooty brown colour, the centre of the down being 

 rather lighter, or dark sooty grey ; and a few feathers of the bird are interspersed here and 

 there. The eggs are creamy white in colour and oval in shape, tapering slightly towards the 

 smaller end. Those in my collection average about 2^ by lf§ inch in size. 



The specimens figured are : — on one Plate an adult male, in full winter dress, and an adult 

 female ; and on the other Plate an adult male in the dull plumage that is assumed in the late 

 summer, and a second male changing from this dress into the full winter plumage. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens: — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, <3 . Leadenhall Market, February 1869. b, S jun. Leadenhall Mai'ket, March 1870. c, <$ in change. 

 Stockholm, July 1871. d, 6 . Stockholm, October 1871 (Meves). e, 6 in change. Near Archangel, 

 September 9th, 1872 (Piottuch). f, $ ad. Archangel, June 24th, 1874 (Piottuch). g. Takoo, China, 

 December 1865 (R. Sivinhoe). 



4 D 



