64' 111 l!ll <; M.I.KKV. 



'I'oi'i'i lit Duck (.1/. iiriiKitd) (688', tVi'(|iu'nts the lii,:;li inouutiiiii toiTciits 

 of the .Vuiles^ and foriii.s a link between the true JMergunsers and the 

 stiff-tailed Diving-Ducks, but diffeis Irom the former in having no teeth 

 on the edges of the mandibles and tlie bend of the wing armed witli a 

 strong spur. The New Zealand Soft-billed Duck {Hymetiola'inus mala- 

 rorhynclins) (689) is worthy of special notice on account of its remark- 

 able bill w itli a dependent membrane, suited f'oi' tlie capture of insect 

 hir\u- on wliicli it principally feeds. 



[Case ;17. The Sitiff-tailed Ducks, so-called fiom tlieir rather long, narrow, rigid 

 tail-feathers wliieh are often carried erect when the bird is swinimiug, 

 include several genera of which representatives will \w found in the 

 White-headed and Australian siiccies of Knxinuturu (690, 691), 

 the American ]\Iasked form {Xuinoiujx] (693), and the Musk l)uck 

 (li'r.'iiira luljutit) (692i. Tlie latter, whose name is derived from the 

 strong musky odour of the sitting female, fre(picnts the seas as well as 

 the lakes of Australia and Tasmania. It is much the largest species of 

 the group, and remarkable on account of the leathery chin-pouch found 

 in both sexes. TTie appendage opens under the tongue and is largest 

 in the male, giving the l)ird a very peculiar aiipearance. Like its 

 allies it is au expert diver and can remain for a long time submerged. 

 It seldom, if ever. Hies in the daytime, but will do so at night. The 

 nest is placed in a swamp or in a bank, and contains two or three olive- 

 colonred eggs. 



Of Sea-Ducks we may first mention the Eiders, which ai'C all in- 

 habitants of northern waters, and are represented by Stcllcr's Eider 

 [Heiucoiiettu xie/h'ii) (694) and the King and Common Eiders [Suiiititeria 

 upectabiits (695) and H. iiioUis.viiia (696)), all of which are included in 

 the Biitish List. Their nests supply the " Eider down " Avhich forms an 

 important article of export in countries such as Norway, where the 

 common species is protected by la\\ and consequently exceedingly 

 numci'ous. It will be noted that tlie series exhibited shows the 



[Ca.^e :i7. changes from summer to winter plumage in both the old and youug 

 drakes, the "eclipse" or intcrniediate antiimn |iluniage being specially 

 interesting. 



[Cii,-e .'it:." The South-American Kosy-billed Duck [Mctopiaiui] (697) is often 

 ke])t on ornamental waters in this country. The Pochards [Netta 

 and Nijrocu) include the Red-crested (698) and Eerruginous (701) 

 species, both of which occur in (ireat Britain as occasional stragglers as 

 well as the Common Pochard (699) and the Cauvas-back (700) from 

 North America, famous for its excellent qualities as a bird for the table. 

 The Tufted Duck (FnVHjHla) (703) breeds plentifully on the lochs and 

 ponds of Great Britain and Ireland, and is easily recognised by the 

 long drooping oe^-ipital crest developed in both sexes; the Scaup 



