548 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



and greater coverts as juvenile but buff edges mostly worn off ; 

 median coverts plentifully edged warm buff ; lesser coverts distally 

 metallic -green more or less glossed violet -purple, proximally 

 brownish tinged dull green, innermost with a slight violet gloss and 

 mostly edged buff. The juvenile body-plumage (not all scapulars), 

 exceptionally an odd tail-feather, some innermost secondaries and 

 coverts, some or most median and lesser coverts are moulted July 

 to Dec. but not rest of wings or tail. Female. — As adult winter 

 female but primary and greater coverts as first winter male ; median 

 coverts more plentifully edged warm buff, innermost brownish- 

 green ; distal lesser coverts duller with less gloss, proximal lesser 

 coverts brownish tinged dull green, very slightly glossed violet, a 

 few with sandy-buff edges but edges usually worn off all but inner- 

 most. 



First summer. Male. — As adult male but distinguished by 

 duller wing-coverts as in first winter and sandy edges to innermost 

 median when not too abraded. Moult as in adult. Female. — As 

 adult female but distinguished by duller wing-coverts as in first 

 winter plumage. N.B. — As adult summer males have primaries 

 worn, first summer males cannot with certainty be identified by 

 relative length of 4th and 5th primaries. 



Measurements and structure. — $ wing 219-234 mm., tail 91- 

 107.5, tarsus 44-49, bill from feathers 23.5-26.5 (12 measured). 

 § wing 216-233, bill 22.5-26.5. Primaries : 1st minute, rest varying 

 considerably individually in each sex, but following formulae appear 

 to be constant. Adult male. — 2nd between 7th and 8th or 8th and 

 9th, 4th or 5th longest, 6th longer than 2nd. Adult female and young 

 male. — 2nd between 5th and 6th (shorter than 5th), 3rd or 4th 

 longest, in some equal, 6th shorter than 2nd. Young female. — 2nd 

 between 3rd and 4th or 4th and 5th (longer than 5th), 3rd usually 

 longest but 4th sometimes as long, 6th shorter than 2nd. In adult 

 male tip of wing is rather rounded in shape, while in adult female 

 and young of both sexes it is more pointed owing to sharp decrease 

 in length of inner primaries and outer secondaries. 2nd emar- 

 ginated inner web, 3rd to 5th both webs ; most pronounced on 

 inner web ; emargination least apparent on 5th. Longest inner- 

 most secondary between 6th and 9th primaries. Tail almost square 

 but lateral feathers slightly longer than central. Bill shorter than 

 head, straight and rather slender, slightly convex at tip ; nasal 

 groove extending two-thirds length of bill. Tarsus immediately 

 below tibio-tarsal joint covered with hexagonal scales, rest of tarsus 

 scutellated anteriorly. Four toes, hind one feeble, middle and outer 

 ones webbed at base, nearly up to 1st joint ; claw of middle toe 

 with inner edge dilated. 



Soft parts. — Bill black ; legs and feet brownish -flesh ; iris dark 

 brown. 



Characters. — No subspecies. Black crest, metallic -green upper- 

 parts and black pectoral band distinguish it from other British 

 waders. 



