496 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



brown tipped grey or buff forming irregular wing-bars, shafts black- 

 brown ; lesser coverts black or dark sepia, fringed tawny. This 

 plumage is acquired by complete moult Aug. to Nov. exceptionally 

 Jan. Summer. — The body-feathers (not all scapulars), tail-feathers, 

 innermost secondaries and coverts, some median and lesser coverts, 

 are moulted March to May, but not rest of wings. Coloration as 

 winter. 



Nestling (Plate 8). — Down on upper -parts sandy, with irregu- 

 lar black-brown lines from eye to eye across fore -head and down 

 centre of crown ; black line from behind eye down nape and mantle 

 where it widens considerably ; black line across wing, another from 

 side of back to uropygial tuft ; another from base of lower mandible 

 almost joining line which passes down nape ; chin light buff ; 

 breast light buff or sandy ; remaining under-parts light buff or 

 buffish-white. N.B. — Black lines vary considerably individually 

 and are sometimes more or less obsolete. 



Juvenile. — Upper -parts as adult but paler, being sepia, feathers 

 narrowly margined light or warm buff ; streaks on head and neck 

 narrower ; back and rump as adult but streaks paler ; upper tail- 

 coverts as adult but central ones marked with obsolete bars ; 

 under-parts as adult but lower -throat and breast with narrower 

 mesial sepia streaks than in some adults ; tail as adult, but ground- 

 colour browner and more broken up with pale bufhsh obsolete bars, 

 outer feathers barred dark brown and white, in some washed buff, 

 with broad black tips ; wing-feathers as adult, but greater coverts 

 ash or fawn-brown, edged at tip, and sometimes notched, light buff 

 or white, more or less shaded sepia towards tip or with a subterminal 

 sepia bar (greater coverts of adult are not broadly edged white at 

 tip) ; median coverts sepia edged light buff at sides and with 

 greyish -white bases, upper series greyish -white or light buff forming 

 indistinct wing-bar, with oval sepia marking towards light buff 

 tip ; lesser coverts as adult. 



First winter. — Apparently as adult winter and only to be 

 distinguished by retained juvenile wing-coverts. The body- 

 feathers, some tail-feathers, some greater, median and lesser coverts 

 are moulted from Sept. onwards but not rest of wings. First 

 summer. — (Not examined . ) 



Measurements and structure. — $ wing 230-252 mm., tail 113- 

 133.5, tarsus 69-83, bill from feathers 34.5-40 (9 measured). ? 

 wing 228-253.5, bill 33-40 (12 measured). Primaries : 1st minute, 

 3rd longest, 2nd slightly shorter or equal, 4th 5-9 mm. shorter, 5th 

 18-24.5 shorter, 6th 36.5-42 shorter. Longest inner secondary 

 between 3rd and 6th primaries. Tail graduated and moderately 

 long. Bill stout, short, straight, broad at base, tapering to a point 

 which is slightly decurved. Nasal sinus large and filled up with a 

 bare membrane. Three toes, outer and middle ones webbed to about 

 first joint, inner and middle ones slightly webbed. 



Soft parts. — Bill, tip black, base yellow ; legs and feet dull 

 sulphur -yellow ; iris clear amber. 



