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THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



Mr Bonhote, who is the main contributor to the above 

 tabulation, remarks that one can draw from it some interest- 

 ing" generalities. Some of the characters are intermediate ; 

 others are entirely those of one parent ; and we have also 

 some new characters. As regards the latter, the markings 

 on the head are, perhaps, the most curious. He suggests 

 that the V- sna P e d white mark is the Eider black V ', only 

 narrower, and therefore not passing through the eye ; one 

 may note, however, the reversing of the colour. The whitish 

 lores and cheeks are probably due to the Eider's white face. 

 The white ear covert is one of the pcecilomeres (cf. Proc. 

 Linn. Soc. } xxix. 185), or spots whence variation in colour 

 generally commences. The two other white stripes are quite 

 new, and remind one of the Pintail. The markings on the 

 breast are undoubtedly pure Eider, as he has never seen or 

 heard of a similar variety in the Mallard ; it is noticeable, 

 however, that they are much more uniform and numerous 

 than in the case of pure-bred Eiders. The increase in the 

 number of the tail feathers is another most interesting point : 

 can they by any chance represent the two long, stiffened and 

 recurved tail coverts of the Mallard ? The light patch 



