BRITISH BIRDS. 
265 
pointing forward from the flioulders on each fide 
of the upper part of the breaft, which, on the low- 
er part, has alfo fimilar ftrokes pointing the fame 
way : the back, the coverts on the ridge of the 
wings, and the primary quills, are black: the fe- 
condaries and greater coverts black, tipped with 
white : the middle coverts and the fcapulars white : 
the fides, under the ^f/ings to the tail, are agree- 
ably variegated and crolTed with dark waved lines. 
The tail confifts of fixteen dark afli-coloured fea- 
thers; the middle ones are about three inches 
and a half long, the reft gradually tapering off 
fliorter on each fide : the legs and feet are of a 
bluifli lead colour. This fpecies is at once diftin- 
guiflied from the reft of the Mergi by its black and 
white piebald appearance, although the individuals 
vary from each other in the proportion and extent 
of thofe colours on their plumage. 
VoL. II. t 
L i 
