120 
We are not aware that a single speci- 
men, in mature plumage, has been taken 
in this country; we will therefore give 
Temminck's remarks on the changes which 
this species assumes. 
" Length of the tarsus eleven lines ; 
quill-shafts brown ; all the wing feathers 
terminated with pure white ; the legs, 
when stretched out, do not extend further 
than about three quarters of the length of 
the tail; hind toe very small, having a 
straight claw scarcely apparent. 
" The male and female, in perfect winter 
plumage, have the forehead, space between 
the eyes and beak, a large spot behind the 
eyes, throat, all the under parts, and tail 
of a perfect white ; back of the head, and 
of the neck, spot in front of the eyes, and 
upon the orifice of the ears of a dusky ash - 
colour ; all the other upper parts of a light 
blue ; all the wing feathers of the same 
colour, terminated by a large space of pure 
white ; under parts of the wings dusky ; 
beak and irides dusky brown ; legs of a 
very bright vermillion ; length ten inches 
