84 
CAPERCAILZIE. 
with brownish-grey, and have the tips of each 
white ; the tail is black, marked at about two 
inches from the extremity with broken white 
patches, which form a wavy interrupted band 
across ; the breast is bright, shining greenish- 
black, shaded with purplish reflections on the sides, 
the feathers of a very fine and close texture, and 
presenting a surface that would turn ordinary shot 
striking it directly ; the belly and other parts of the 
under surface are glossy black, in the centre inter- 
spersed with patches of white ; on the sides and 
flanks the feathers have the grey or brownish-grey 
ground colour, freckled with black ; the tarsi aro 
feathered with brownish-grey plumes, very much 
elongated behind, and approaching to the loose 
texture of those in the true moorfowl ; they are 
double the length of the hind toe, which they 
completely conceal. 
The females appear to vary considerably in size. 
One procured in the same cargo which contained 
the above described male, is only from two to 
three aud twenty inches in length, and would not 
sit more than seventeen inches high. The general 
appearance of the markings are similar to those of 
the grey hen, ochreous-brown, barred with black,, 
but the colours are clearer, the barring broader 
and more distinct, the edges of the feathers being 
always paler ; the centre of the breast, where the 
rich green of the male is seen, is of a uniform tint 
of rich brownish-orange, in parts slightly marked 
with freckles, where the bars are placed. The 
