Plumage soft and blended ; wings of ordinary length, the second,
third, and fourth quills longest. Tail short, even, of twelve rounded
feathers.
Bill brownish-black above, and on the tips of ihe lower mandible, the base of which is light greyish-blue. Iris hazel. Feet dusky brown. The general colour of the plumage above is dull leaden grey ; the two middle tail-feathers of the same tint ; the rest black, the margin of the outer- most and the ends of it, and of the three next on each side, white, the tips grey. Upper part of the head and hind-neck light reddish-brown, with a white spot on the hind-neck. The under parts in general are dull white.
Length 4 inches, extent of wings 8 ; bill along the back -^^, along the edge -^^ ; tarsus y.
Adult Female. Plate CXXV. Fig. 2.
The female has the tints paler, but in other respects resembles the male.
