PEDKECETES PHASIANELLUS VAR. COLUMBIANUS. 415 



Th6 first feathers — those of the wings — are light brown, with broken 

 black bars, and strong shaft-lines of pure white, as well as edging of 

 the same. The tail sprouts next. Then some brown feathers appear on 

 the crown. Next, two broad strips of white feathers, with circular 

 brown spots, appear on each side of the breast, coalescing and gradually 

 extending down the side ; meanwhile the scapular and dorsal feathers 

 appear, and the feathering finishes with the neck, when the birds are 

 about one-third grown. With the final disappearance of the down the 

 birds are in a plumage which differs materially from that of the adults, 

 and may be thus described: Grown, warm rich brown, variegated with 

 black. White shaft-lines of the upper plumage persistent, making 

 sharp, white, lengthwise stripes, which, together with a black area on 

 each feather, contrast with the fine gray and brown mottling of the 

 upper parts. Wing-coverts and inner quills somewhat like the back, on 

 their outer webs at least, but with whitish spots along the edge. Sev- 

 eral inner tail-feathers with a shaft-line of white, and otherwise mottled 

 blackish and brown. Lower throat and breast with a bufty suffusion, 

 and with numberless dark brown spots ; sides, similar, but the markings 

 lengthened into streaks. Bill, brown above, light-colored below. 



This plumage lasts through the greater part of September, and is one 

 of several distinctive evidences of immaturity. Sometime during this 

 month a moult occurs, and the perfect plumage of the fall and winter 

 is gained with its completion. By the time of the moult the birds are 

 well grown — sometimes full grown — and delicate for table; but it is 

 hardly fair to shoot them before the change is completed, i hough they 

 fly well enough, they lack spirit and vigor, drop at a touch of small shot, 

 and, altogether, try the qualities of the sportsman little more than gun- 

 ning in a hen-yard would. They should be let alone till they are 

 stronger, warier, and clothed in the fresh, crisp plumage they are about 

 to assume, and which, when completed, makes a bird like this: 



Nech without obviously peculiar feathers, like those of either of the 

 Pinnated orEuffed Grouse or Sage Cock, but with a hidden, definitely 

 circumscribed space on each side of reddish, vascular, and distensible 

 skin, constituting an undeveloped tympanum, over which lies a lateral 

 series of slightly enlarged feathers. Sead lightly crested, the longest 

 feathers of the crown falling on the occiput; a crescentic naked patch 

 over each eye of numerous orange or chrome-yellow fringe-like pro- 

 cesses, in several parallel curved rows. BUI and toings of an ordinary 

 gallinaceous character. Feet full-feathered to between the bases of the 

 toes, with long, hair-like plumage reaching to or beyond the end of the . 

 hind claw. Toes above with one row of broad, transverse scutella, a 

 row on each side of smaller rounded scales, and a conspicuous fringe of 

 horny processes ; beloic, bossed and scabrous. Tail much shorter than 

 the wings, normally of eighteen true rectrices, of which the central pair 

 are soft, parallel-edged, and square-tipped, projecting an inch or two 

 beyond the next pair; the rest rapidly graduated, stiffish, and crisp 

 (making a creaking sound when rubbed together), and, though at first 

 about straight-edged, soon becoming club-shaped (with a constriction 

 near the apex) by mutual attrition. Sexes similar, but cock rather 

 larger and darker than the hen, with more prominent supraciliary 

 papillae. Length, 18 or 20 inches ; extent, 24 to 30 ; wing, 8 to 9 ; mid- 

 dle tail-feathers, 4 to 6 ; shortest tail-leathers (outermost), about IJ ; 

 tarsi, 2 inches ; middle toe and claw, about the same ; culmeu of bill, 

 about f ; gape' of bill, 1 to IJ ; depth of bUl at base, J, or rather less. 

 Colors : Upper parts closely and pretty evenly variegated with black- 

 ish-brown, reddish-brown, and grayish-brown, the pattern smallest on 



