456 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



the rest of the plumage is pale slate-grey^ finely vermiculated with black 

 and transversely harred with bufi" and chestnut^ palest on the flanks^ darker 

 on the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts and two centre tail-feathers, and 

 darkest of all on the scapulars and wing-coverts. Wherever these butf and 

 chestnut bars occur the feathers have also buff shaft'lines. The ground- 

 colour of the belly is very pale, and is marked with two large chocolate 

 marks, which are confluent on the upper half. Bill pale slate-grey ; legs, 

 feet, and claws dull slate-grey; irides hazel. Behind the eye is a bare 

 scarlet patch. The female very closely resembles the male in colour, but 

 is somewhat duller, and has only traces of the dark patches on the belly. 

 Males of the year resemble females. Young in first plumage have no 

 chestnut on the head and neck, the general colour of the plumage is huffish 

 brown instead of pale slate-grey, and the chocolate patches on the belly are 

 entirely absent, as are also the transverse chestnut bars on both the upper 

 and under parts. 



