Ornithological Notes. 
179 
The following is a detailed description of the two most 
perfect specimens which I examined. They were shot near 
Berwick :-— 
Male. — Measures 15^ inches long from bill to point of the 
two elongated feathers of tail, which are 3J inches longer 
than the other tail feathers. Length of wing from flexure 
to point of elongated first primary, lOJ inches ; first primary 
elongated point IJ inches longer than second, which is also, 
like the others, pointed. Bill small, dark blue, tipped with 
black. Top of head light buff or fawn colour, with lighter 
yellowish line over eye, behind the ear becoming of a chestnut 
colour. The back and upper parts fawn-coloured, feathers 
broadly edged with black, and some tipped with white- 
upper tail coverts similar. Chin and throat covered by a 
rounded patch of chestnut, with defined line of black below 
it. Neck and breast fawn colour. Feathers at lower 
part of breast lighter in colour, and edged with narrow 
black lines, forming a narrow band across breast ; below 
this band the abdomen is fawn-coloured, and behind this 
again, a band of very dark brown, or rather black, crosses 
the abdomen in front of legs. The under tail coverts 
are dirty white, the base of the feathers being darker. 
Wing, pointed ; smaller coverts are fawn-coloured, showing 
only one or two small round spots of black. Secondaries, 
reddish brown, forming a bar across the wing when closed. 
The quills have the central ribs black, like tail, and are of 
a bluish grey colour on their outer webs» First primary 
longest, its outer edge black, produced to a setaceous 
point; others regularly diminishing in kngth — axillaries 
white. The tail is fawn-coloured, outer webs dashed with 
bluish grey, and inner barred with dark brown or black ; 
the two middle feathers are produced to fine black points 
or filaments. Legs and feet closely covered all round 
with short fawn-coloured feathers. Toes rather broad, and 
conjoined or concrete ; no hallux ; below bare, and skin 
reticulated, 
Female.~l^ inches in length. Middle tail feather 1| 
beyond others. Wing to point of primaries, 8 J ; first pri- 
mary 1 inch longer than others. Bill dark blue, tipped with 
VOL. Ill, 2 k 
