MOOR-HEN. 14 3 



The colouring of the plumage is apparently black, but on 

 closer inspection very rich and beautiful ; the head, neck, 

 breast, and sides of the body are deep purplish-grey, the belly 

 and vent are dirty white, under tail-coverts clean white, and 

 the sides and thighs streaked with white ; the back, wings, 

 rump, and tail, are very dark brown, with a tinge of olive, 

 that appears very rich, owing to the silky texture of the fea- 

 thers ; the beak is of a delicate greenish yellow, the base of 

 which is beautifully ornamented with bright red, that extends 

 to the forehead ; the eyes are dusky, and the legs and feet 

 pale mellow green, with a bright red band around the naked 

 part of the tibia ; the toes are ornamented with the requisite 

 scaled fringes that aid the bird in swimming and diving. 



The egg figured 214 is that of the Moor-hen. 



N 2 



