BRITISH BIRDS. 
21 
stronger ; it is rather elevated and arched, and slight* 
ly notched at the tip, and, as well as the irides, is of a 
reddish colour ; a patch or stroke of black covers the 
space between the corners of the mouth and the eyes, 
and this spot is thinly beset with a few hairs. The 
whole plumage, excepting the wings and tail, is of a 
pure yellow ; the two latter are black, but are marked 
as follows : — The edge of the wing at the alula spuria , 
is yellow, and a spot or patch of that colour is formed 
below, on the tips of the first series of the primary 
quills, or second bastard wing. The first quill of the 
primaries is remarkably short, the second is shorter 
than the third, and both the former are wholly black ; 
the third and fourth are slightly edged with yellow 
on part of their outer webs ; all the rest of the quills 
are more or less slightly tipped with yellow, and are 
glossed like satin on their undersides. The tail con- 
sists of twelve feathers ; the two middle ones are black, 
slightly tipped with yellow ; all the rest are more or 
less deeply marked with that colour, from their tips 
upwards. The legs are short, and, as well as the toes, 
are black, with the undersides wide or spread out, 
and have rather a coarse appearance; the claws are 
hooked and strong. The plumage of the female differs 
from that of the male. Where he is yellow, she is of 
a dull olive green ; her wing coverts, secondary quills, 
and upper parts of the tail feathers, partake of the 
same colour, but are much darker; the quills and 
lower ends of the tail feathers are dusky, and, as well 
as the former, are all tipped, less or more, with pale 
dull yellow. The skin of the male was presented to 
this work by G. T. Fox, Esq. of Westoe : the bird was 
