334 
yellow. The chief peculiarity, however, iu this specimen, besides 
the almost total absence of Avax-tips, is the fact that the seven 
secondary quills though but slightly (as compared Avith other 
females) tipped Avith Avhite on the outer Aveb have the outer 
and inner Avebs level Avith the extremity of the shaft, and the Avhite 
patch, except in one feather in each Aving, does not approach the shaft 
by one-sixteenth of an inch. The black patch on the throat is as 
dark in color, though not so large, as in a fine male now before 
mo Avith seven Avax-tips. I know of one other instance of the 
same kind, a bird killed near LoAvestoft in the winter of 186G-G7 ; 
but as I did not see it till some tAvelvo months after, and the sex 
AA’as not noted at the time, it does not appear in my list. 
^Vax-tips to Shafts of Tail-feathers. 
Specimens have been recorded from time to time, as haAung the 
shafts of the tail-feathers slightly tipped Avith red as well as the 
Avings, but that this is very rarely the case is, I think, proved by 
the’ fact, that of the large number that I examined in the Avinter 
of 186G-G7, or of Avhich I had any description at that time. Jive only 
showed the slightest trace of caudal appendages. Of these five 
birds, four proved, by dissection, to be males ; of the other, un- 
fortunately, the sex Avas not ascertained; but of tAventy-sevcn 
females, identified as such, not one exhibited the least indication 
of colouring in this respect. Whether, this peculiarity, however, 
is or is not peculiar to the males my list certainly shows that its 
ac(iuisition is not conRiied to those examples having the largest 
number of tips on the wings ; and, though, in each specimen, the 
richness of plumage was very marked, yet they could scarcely 
be said to eclipse others aaRiosc tail-feathers Avero not similarly 
ornamented. 
Of the examples thus referred to. Nos. 3 and 4 in the list, 
killed on the 19th of November, Avere certainly, as to size and 
brightness of plumage, two of the finest birds obtained that season, 
and each had seven Avax-tips on the Avings extremely fine. No. 3 
had all the shafts of the tail-feathers tinged Avith red Avdiero they 
pass through the yellow band at the extremity of the tail, but 
only in the centre feather was there the slightest projection beyond 
