The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 3 of 5] : $b BirdsGould, John
Science
The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 3 of 5] : $b Birds
Gould, John
Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Birds; Zoology
Long. tot. unc., 9¾; _alæ_, 6⅓; _caudæ_, 5; _tarsi_ ¾.
Front and back of head gray, mottled with black and with little
fulvous. The latter colour more abundant, and in larger markings in
the interscapular region, and on the wing-coverts. The black
markings give a somewhat streaked appearance to the back of head and
interscapulars. On the back of throat the fulvous tint is so much
pronounced, that a collar is formed which is continued under a white
one round the breast. Wings: primaries brownish black; four external
ones, with a large white mark, forming a band, at about one-third of
their length from their extremities: these white marks are edged
with fulvous, and the part on the outer web of the first primary, is
wholly so coloured. The other primaries are marked with reddish
brown, as are the secondaries and tertiaries, the marks becoming
more numerous and smaller, and the colours more mottled, nearer the
back. Tail: upper tail-coverts and two central feathers of tail
marked like those on the back; the black, however, forming narrow
interrupted transverse bars. The pair next to these central ones
have near their extremities a large white mark, but only on the
inner shaft. In the three succeeding pairs, the white spot extends
on both sides of the shaft, and in each pair increases somewhat in
size; so that in the external pair, the white spot is merely
bordered with a very narrow, faint margin, of brown and fulvous. At
about half their length, all the feathers, with the exception of the
central pair, have a smaller white mark, but only on the inner side
of the shaft. This mark is transverse, in the form of a band, and
the white blends into fulvous on the edges of the webs. Outer web of
these same external feathers, are transversely barred with black and
fulvous. _Under surface._—Chin, breast, belly, and lining of wings,
dirty fulvous, with numerous narrow, irregular, transverse bars of
brown. Throat with white collar, beneath which the fulvous tint is
predominant, forming a kind of under collar, which is continued
round the whole neck. Under tail-coverts fulvous,—tail itself
appears almost black, with a great terminal white band, and a
narrower one at about half its length.
Wings, an inch and a quarter shorter than the tail. Second primary,
scarcely perceptibly longer than the third; the first about an
eighth of an inch shorter than the second, and 8 ths longer than the
fourth. Feathers on wing, with the outer webs, slightly excised.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account