PLATE CXLIX. 



difference is yet more obvious in the length of the tail than even in 

 the wings. The general colour of the plumage is more vinaceous : 

 the wings incline more to grey, with fcarcely any of the ochraceous 

 hue obfervable in thofe of the Turtle, and the black or dufky marks 

 in the difk of the feathers are totally diflimilar; thefe in the Turtle 

 form a diftin^: fubtriangular fpot of a very dark hue, approaching to 

 black, while in the other there is no indication whatever of fuch a 

 fpot^ except an obfcure longitudinal dafh down the middle of each 

 of the feathers upon the fcapulars and wing coverts. Its fize ex- 

 ceeds that of the common Turtle, the length of the latter being about 

 twelve inches, that of the Spotted Necked Turtle about fourteen. 



It is afluredly a matter of fome furprize to us, that thefe efTential 

 differences, the exiPicnce of which, on an accurate comparifon of 

 the two birds, is fo palpably obvious, {hould efcape remark till the 

 prefent moment ; but it appears in truth that the bird itfelf is fcarcely 

 known, and that thefe di{lin6lions being unnoticed in Dr. Latham^s 

 work, thofe who have compiled on his authority, were not aware 

 that any fuch diflin£lions prevail. When thefe charafters are con- 

 fidered duly, in addition to the remarkable and more confpicuous, 

 but not more permanent, diftinQion of the numerous white dots 

 upon the collar or black fpace of the neck *, we are inclined to ap- 

 prehend, no very trivial reafons are advanced for confidering the two 



• In this bird, the whole fide of the neck is black; there is a black fpace on the neck 

 of the common Turtle, but it only forms a fmall patch : in the Spotted Necked Turtle 

 the white dots are numerous, every black feather exhibiting one near the end. In the 

 common Turtle the end of the feather itfelf is white, but there is no fpot in the diik of 

 the feather, and the (hape is different ; that of the bird before us being difti&Aly round } 

 while in the Common Turtle it forms the fegment half of a circle, or is rather lunate. 



birds 



