Il6 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



coverts white with dark spots. From the sides some lon^ 

 lanceolate featliers, with black edges and broad white edges, 

 hansf over the wings, the coverts of which are light leaden 

 blue ; the outer secondaries are tipped with white ; the bill 

 and legs and feet are dusky. Length, 1 foot 5 inches ; the 

 female less ; in her the eye streak is pale brown, and the 

 breast greyish white. 



The garganey is migratory, and occurs sparingly in 

 Scotland, where the nest has been occasionally met with. 



The food, like that of the other members of the family, 

 consists of aquatic insects, frogs, fish and their spawn, grain, 

 etc., but the last is always taken to and eaten in the water. 



The buli'-coloured eggs are from ten to twelve in number, 

 occasionally more. 



The garganey is easily tamed, and is a very ornamental 

 bird, although not so brilliantly coloured as some other 

 members of its family. It is accounted by connoisseurs to 

 be excellent eating. 



Wild Duck. — In his summer dress the male has the 

 head and neck of a steel blue colour, with green reflections. 

 This is succeeded by a narrow band of white that almost 

 encircles the neck. The breast is rich purple, the back 

 brown, the rump and tail blue. The first wing coverts are 

 brown, succeeded by a band of white, then one of blue, one 

 of very dark steel blue, and another of white. The rest of 

 the wing is dark brown ; the sides and the under parts 

 grey, finely peppered with a darker shade. The bill is 

 orange, with a black tip ; the eye greyish yellow ; and the 

 legs and feet yellowish grey, with a shade of green. The 

 female, and the male while out of colour, brown, with 

 streaks of black and darker brown. The wing spot is 

 small, and the breast dull yellowish brown. liCngth, 2 feet 

 2 inches ; female, 1 foot 10 inches. 



They migiate in the si)ring and autumn, occurring in 



