329 
tho number of wax-tips on tho wings that tho female lias “ never 
more than five,” and Macgillivray, evidently referring to tho males 
only, tliat “tho greatest number is seven,” tho following tablo 
may lielp to correct erroneous impressions : — 
MAIiES. 
3 had 4 tips. 
7 )) 
>y d ,, 
„ 7 „ 
3 j) 8 ,, 
41 
Females. 
* 1 had 2 tips. 
» 3 ,, 
7 » d „ 
>> 3 )> 
7 I) G ,, 
2S 
Kero, then, wo find tho wax-tips in males ranging from four to 
eight, with six and seven as an e([ual compliment in the majority 
of instances. In females wo have from two to seven and in one 
solitary instance eight, whilst six is evidently very usual ; in fact, 
I those with four, five, and six tips, were all but equal in number! 
Of tho exceptional female with eight tips (Xo. 75), I may remark, 
that the sex was accidentally omitted in my original notes but it is 
.'SO entered in Mr. Gunn’s, and I believe correctly from what I 
remember of tho circumstances as tho bird, owing to its brilliant 
plumage and large size, attracted our special notice. It was 
.killed at M orstead on the 15th of December, and was extremely 
flit, weighing just 3 oz., tho averago weight being not more 
than oz. That size, also, is no reliable indication of sex in 
;this species is sufficiently shown by Mr. Gunn, who carefully 
measured his specimens in tho Jlesh, and from his list (see 
also a few measurements appended to my own) the average 
length from beak to tail is about 8| in.; one only, a male 
* This specimen (No. 19) was not dissected by either Mr. Gunn or myself- 
out the sex can scarcely be considered doubtful, as we found no male with 
ess than four ; and a brooding female killed from the nest, presented by the 
•ate Mr. John Molley to the Norwich Museum, has only two tips on 
jach wing. ^ 
