320 
TELL-TALE TATLEE. 
edges grooved longitudinally, the tip narrow. Nasal groove long and 
narrow, extending to nearly half the length of the bill; nostrils basal, 
linear, direct, pervious. 
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed, eyes large. Neck rather 
long and slender. Body slender. Feet very long and slender ; tibia baro 
for half its length, scutcllate before and behind ; tarsus compressed, also 
scutellate before and behind ; hind toe very small and elevated ; fore toes of 
moderate length, very slender, connected at the base by webs, of which the 
outer is larger ; second or inner toe considerably shorter than fourth, which 
is in a similar degree exceeded by the third ; all covered with numerous 
scutella above, flattened beneath, and marginate. Claws small, slightly 
arched, much compressed, rather obtuse, that of the middle toe touch 
larger, with the inner edge dilated. 
Plumage soft and blended, on the fore part of the head very short. 
Wings long, narrow, pointed ; primaries narrow and tapering, first longest, 
second a little shorter, the rest rapidly graduated ; secondaries short, 
broad, incurved, obliquely rounded, the inner elongated and tapering. Tail 
short, doubly emarginate in a slight degree, of twelve rounded feathers. 
Bill black, tinged with bluish-grey at the base. Iris dark brown. Feet 
bright yellow, claws brownish-black. Upper part of the head, lores, cheeks, 
and the neck all round, excepting the throat, streaked with brownish-black, 
on a white ground, tinged with grey on the head and hind neck ; the throat, 
breast, and abdomen, are pure white ; the sides and lower tail-coverts barred 
with brownish-black, as are the axillar feathers and lower wing-coverts ; 
the lower surface of the primaries light grey, their shafts white. The upper 
parts generally are black, glossed with green, each feather margined with 
white triangular spots. The hind part of the rump and the upper tail- 
coverts white, barred with dusky. The anterior smaller wing-coverts, 
alula, primary coverts, and primary quills, brownish-black, without spots ; 
shaft of first primary white, of the rest brown. Tail-feathers white, with 
numerous bands of dark greyish-brown ; the middle six feathers more or 
less of a light brownish-grey toward the end, the bars not extending over 
their central, part, their tips white. 
Length to end of tail 14 inches, to end of wings 14, to end of claws 16 ; 
extent of wings 244 ; bill along the ridge 2 T \, along the edge of the lower 
mandible 2 T S 2 . wing from flexure 872 ; tail 3 T % ; bare part of tibia li ; 
tarsus 2 * T ; hind toe and claw T 4 4 ; middle toe and claw lf|. Weight 6 oz. 
Adult Female. 
The female resembles the male. 
Length to end of tail 134, to end of wings 14i, to end of claws 17f; 
extent of wings 25 3 - Weight Q-> oz. 
