828 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



median and greater with varying amount of narrow whitish bars,, 

 sometimes reduced to small " ticks " along edges of feathers 

 and occasionally absent. This plumage is acquired by complete 

 moult, which is very rapid, all wing -feathers, wing-coverts and tail 

 being shed simultaneously, Aug.-Sep., occasionally not quite 

 finished Oct. Summer. — A moult apparently usually confined to 

 body-feathers and tail but sometimes involving some wing-coverts 

 takes place Dec .-March. Plumage like winter but feathers of upper - 

 rjarts with greyer fringes, grey-blue stripe over eye wider, sides of 

 chin and throat and breast with considerable grey-blue tinge> 

 varying and often with little buff -brown. 



Adult female. Winter and summer. — Like adult male but in 

 winter usually with only a tinge of blue -grey over eye and none 

 below, in summer with less grey-blue on sides of head and throat 

 and breast but varying somewhat. 



Nestli?ig. — Covered with longish down with fine, silky tips. 

 Whole bird sooty brown-black, tips of down on upper-parts buff- 

 brown but on head and under-parts rather blacker. This down is 

 replaced by juvenile feathers which commence to grow when bird 

 is very small ; down only clings to tips of feathers just when they 

 begin to sprout and is shed very quickly. Thumb with rather strong 

 claw. 



Juvenile. — Like adult winter female but over eye buff-brown 

 without grey, all upper-parts with edges of feathers more buff -brown 

 without grey tinge, throat and breast more yellowish buff-brown and 

 without grey tinge, flanks more rufous and less barred brown, wing- 

 coverts sometimes without bars and usually less barred than 

 adult. 



First winter. — The juvenile body -feathers appear to be moulted 

 Sept.-Oct. and bird becomes like adult but is perhaps usually less 

 blue-grey on throat and breast. 



Measurements and structure. — $ wing 135-150 mm., tail 40-50, 

 tarsus 34-43, bill from feathers 20-23 (15 European measured). $ 

 wing 130-145, bill 19-23. Primaries : 2nd longest, 3rd as long or 

 1-5 mm. shorter, 1st 8-14 shorter, 4th 2-10 shorter, 5th 8-15 shorter; 

 outer web of 1st very narrow and slightly serrated along its edge, 

 rest of primaries broad with tips rather square. Outer secondaries 

 rather shorter than 10th primary, tips rounded, innermost elongated 

 and reaching almost or quite to tip of wing. Tail much rounded, 

 narrow and arched, 12 soft and narrow feathers, tips rounded. 

 Tarsus somewhat thick, toes long and slender, claws small and 

 slightly arched. Tibia bare for short distance above joint. Bill 

 rather stout and compressed, broader at base and tapering to point, 

 ridge of culmen narrow, gonys short. Nostrils short and slit-like 

 in a large nasal groove. Feathers on fore-head with shafts some- 

 Avhat thickened, stiff and bristle-like. 



Soft parts. — Bill pale brown, tip darker, under mandible more 

 flesh -colour ; legs and feet pale flesh ; iris pale brown. 



