Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/406

346 stage before the black colouring matter began to appear; but in no case anything near as white as in gambeli. In the seventh stage the drab is appearing, in the eighth it has increased in intensity, as have also the black markings. In all these three the black markings are much less than in the gambeli series, and in all cases completely broken by the drab feathers. In this it will be seen that my observations agree perfectly with those of other writers. In all these birds the outer wing-coverts are much darker than in the series of gambeli.

The legs and toes are a bright orange yellow. Bill pale livid yellow. Nail shining white with a tinge of slate. Iride dark hazel, and eyelid dark drab. The measurements and weights of these I give in order:—Length 27½ in.; wing 16¼ in.; weight 5¼ lb.; bill 1·85 in.; tarsus 2·60 in.; neck 7½ in.Length 27½ in.; wing 16 in.; weight 5¼ lb.; bill 1·80 in.; tarsus 2·60 in.Adult female: Length 27 in.; wing 16½ in.; weight 5½ lb.; bill 1·80 in.; tarsus 2·65 in.

It remains now to describe the two last and most important stages in this bird. The breeding bird with entirely black under parts is exceedingly rare in collections, and I think has never been fully described, even by American writers! Audubon ('Birds of America,' vol. vii. p. 209) had evidently heard of such a plumage but not seen it, as he says: "Feeling pretty confident that in summer the lower part of the body becomes pure black." Dr. Elliot Coues ('Key to North American Birds,' p. 684) says, "in high plumage perhaps mostly black," so that he had never seen the bird, and probably only copied Audubon's indecisive remarks. The only references I can find amongst British writers are in Ussher's 'Birds of Ireland,' p. 170, and the late John Cordeaux in 'British Birds, their Nests and Eggs,' vol. iv. p. 591, who refers to a specimen in the collection of Mr. Gr. H. Caton Haigh; but both writers regarded these birds—which were obtained from Ireland—as being A. albifrons. If Mr. Ussher and Mr. Haigh will kindly examine their specimens, they will probably find that they are of the large-billed race.