This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 edition. Excerpt: ...with deeper yellowish white. The female closely resembles the male, but is rather smaller. Length, from five inches and three quarters to six inches. The wings expand to the width of from nine inches and a half to ten inches. The young birds of the first year have the olive and yellow tint assumed in ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 edition. Excerpt: ...with deeper yellowish white. The female closely resembles the male, but is rather smaller. Length, from five inches and three quarters to six inches. The wings expand to the width of from nine inches and a half to ten inches. The young birds of the first year have the olive and yellow tint assumed in autumn by their parents. 'The plumage of the upper parts has the dark brown spots larger, and their margins dull greenish yellow; the spots on the fore-neck and breast are larger, and the breast and sides are strongly tinged with light red. The outer tail feather has the inner web white at its terminal half; the outer web grey towards the end, white in the middle and nearly to the base; the second has a small white spot at the tip. The bill is dusky above, yellowish beneath; the feet and claws pale reddish yellow.' There is, at all events in some individuals, a partial moult in the spring, in March or April, owing possibly to their accidental loss of feathers, or the state of their health. Mr. W. Thompson, of Belfast, describes a remarkable and elegant variety of this species as follows: --The crown of the head, beautiful rich primrose yellow, which colour also broadly edged the white feathers of the back, and those of the upper surface of the wings and tail. The throat and under side of the neck were pure white. One wing was very handsome, the four first quills being pure white, the next four of the usual dark colour, and the remainder pure white. One half of the tail feathers were wholly white, excepting the margins, which were broadly edged with primrose yellow. The lower part of the breast, and a few odd feathers here and there were of the ordinary colour. The bill and legs were paler in hue than usual. Other varieties of a yellowish and..
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