BRACHYPTERYX MONTANA. 
base of the tail. This latter organ reaches to the extremity of the tarsi ; it consists 
of twelve feathers ; the exterior ones extend to the middle of the tail ; the remaining 
gradually increase to the fifth and sixth, which are of equal length. 
From these statements it appears, that in the form of the bill, Brachypteryx and 
Saxicola very nearly agree ; that in comparison with other birds of this family, the 
tarsi are more slender in Brachypteryx ; but that the chief distinguishing character of 
the latter consists in the shortness and obtuseness of the wings. 
In our Plate the colours of the male and female bird are carefully exhibited. 
The weight of the former is five, and of the latter six drams* In the length of the 
two sexes scarcely any difference is perceptible. The measure is five inches and nine 
lines from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail : to the extremity of the claws 
the length is six inches. In the male, the head, neck, and breast have a dark indigo 
blue tint, inclining to black, with a grayish reflection on the surface, variegated with 
lighter and darker shades ; on the throat and the lower part of the neck, this colour 
passes into gray ; on the forehead it is more intense, inclining to black. Above the 
eyes is an oblong white spot. The back, the wings above, the shoulders, the coverts 
of the tail, the vent, hypochondria?, and thighs, are deep chestnut brown, with a 
ferruginous reflection. The wings underneath, and the tail at the extremity and 
underneath, are pure blackish brown ; the shafts of the quill and tail feathers are 
black and shining. The inner vanes of the quills, and the tail feathers generally, 
have a very deep brown colour. The exterior vanes of the tail feathers are slightly 
tinted with the ferruginous lustre of the upper parts. The lower parts of the 
breast and the abdomen are whitish. The plumes, on the posterior portion of the 
body of our bird, are very thickly disposed ; the vanes consist of long, delicate, 
silky, pendulous laminae or filaments, forming a lax covering about the lower parts 
of the abdomen, the hypochondrias, and the root of the tail. The irides have a 
dark hue. The bill is black, and the tarsi are deep brown. The tint of the claws 
is somewhat lighter. 
In the female, the dark blue tint, which in the male covers the head and neck, 
extends over the body generally, and also marks the exterior vanes of the quills. 
The interior vanes of the latter, and the tail feathers, are dark brown, inclining to 
black. The throat and neck underneath have a dark grayish tint. The abdomen is 
grayish white. Over the eyes it has, like the male, a white spot, and the bill and 
tarsi also agree with that. The covering of the abdomen, vent, and thighs is like- 
wise long, delicate, silky, and pendulous. 
