284 BAY-BIRDS. 



never pauses or seems to notice them ; and for this 

 reason, in spite of its epicurean recommendationsi 

 it is generally neglected. In the cool days of Sep- 

 tember and October, when the mosquitoes have auo- 

 cumbed in a measure to the frost, its pursuit over 

 the open meadows is pleasant and exhilarating. It, 

 is often killed to the number of eighty in a day, and 

 is so fat that its body is absolutely round, 



" /Specific Character. — Bill straight, base orange- 

 green ; length of tarsi one inch and one-sixteenth ; 

 upper parts brownish-black, edged with reddisti- 

 brown ; throat white ; fore part of neck and upper 

 part of the breast light brownish-grey, streaked with 

 dusky ; rest of lower parts, including the lower taii- 

 coverts, white. Adult with the bill straight ; top 

 of the head dark-brown, intermixed with black; 

 sides of the head, neck, and a large portion of the 

 breast, greyish-brown, streaked with dusky; chin 

 white ; a streak of dark brown before the eye, con- 

 tinuing to the nostril, directly above a faint line oi 

 white ; back dark-brown ; feathers margined with 

 white; primary quills dark-brown^shaft of the first 

 white ; outer secondaries slightly edged with white ; 

 tail-feathers brown, margined with brownish-white 

 — two middle feathers darker, longest, and morn 

 pointed ; lower part of the breast, abdomen, and 

 sides of the body and under tail-coverts white ; feet 

 dull yellow ; tibia bare, about half the length. 

 Female, the general plumage lighter. Length nine 

 inches and a half, wing five and a quarter.'' — 

 Giraud. 



