70 
The female is a trifle less than the other 
sex, she lays one egg* of a dirty white, 
blotched with pale rust-colour, which is 
deposited under ground, or in some hole in 
the rocks. 
The male and female in complete winter 
plumage have the top and back of the head 
and all the upper parts, with the exception 
of the middle of the wings, of a pretty deep 
black ; the middle and greater wing co- 
verts white; cheeks and all the under parts 
from the beak to the tail white; irides 
brown ; beak black ; interior of the mouth 
and legs light red. — The y oung of the first 
year have the throat, breast, and all the 
under parts of a pure white; top of the head 
and lower part of the back of the neck and 
sides of the breast blackish, spotted with 
grey and white ; back and rump dull black ; 
some of the scapulars and feathers of the 
rump terminated by light ash-colour; wings 
black, except the speculum, which is white, 
but marked with ash-coloured or dusky 
spots ; inside of the mouth and legs livid 
red ; irides dusky brown. — In the breeding 
* Bewick says the eggs are of a grey colour. 
