WHITE HELGAHSER. 
121 
black, but of a less deep tint ; the hind part of the back becomes tinged with 
grey, and the rump and tail-feathers are dusky grey. The sides of the body 
and rump are white, finely undulated with blackish-grey. * 
Length to end of tail 17£ inches, to end of claws 18 4, to end of wings 
15§ ; extent of wings 27 ; bill along the ridge lf|, along the edge of lower 
mandible lf| ; wing from flexure 71 ; tail ; tarsus 111 ; first toe 2 , its 
claw T 3 2 ; second toe If, its claw T V ; third toe Iff* its claw T 4 f ; fourth toe 
Ilf, its claw r \. Weight 1 lb. 8 oz. 
Adult Female. 
The female is much smaller. The feathers of the hind part of the head 
and neck are also elongated so as to form a crest. The bill, iris, and feet, 
are coloured as in the male. All the lower parts are white, excepting a 
broad band of light grey across the middle of the neck, and a narrow por- 
tion of the sides, which are of a deeper tint. There is a patch of brownish- 
black on the lore and beneath the eye ; the upper part of the head and half 
of the hind neck are light reddish-brown ; the rest of the hind neck, and 
all the upper parts, bluish-grey, darker behind, and in the middle of the 
back approaching to black. The wings as in the male, that is black, with 
a large patch of white, and two narrow transverse bands of the same ; the 
tail dusky grey. 
Length to end of tail 15-4 inches, to end of claws 161, to end of wings 
14f ; extent of wings 25. Weight 1 lb. 4 oz. 
Yol. YII. — 16 
