G8 QUERQUEDULA ACUTA. 



axillars Avhite. "with grey markings ; the lower Aving-coverts 

 grey. On the sides of the rump is a buiF-coloured patch ; 

 the abdomen white, faintly undulated with grey ; the feathers 

 under the tail black, the outer externally white ; the imme- 

 diate coverts long, stiff, and pointed. 



Length to end of tail 25 inches ; extent of wings 35 ; 

 wing from flexure 11^; tail 6^ ; bill along the ridge 2j^y> 

 along the edge of lower mandible 2-^, its height at the base 

 \^, its breadth toward the end -f-j ; tarsus I5- ; hind toe ^-j, 

 its claw yV 5 second toe 1 j, its claw -— ; third toe 1-|^^, its 

 claAV -^ ; fourth toe 1^, its claw -^. 



Female. — The female, which is much smaller than the 

 male, is very differently coloured. The bill is greyish-black 

 above, reddish-brown beneath; the feet brown. The head 

 and neck are light reddish-brown, streaked with dusky, the 

 lines very delicate on part of the middle of the neck behind. 

 The upper parts are blackish-brown, the feathers narrowly 

 edged and variously barred with reddish-white. The quills 

 greyish-brown ; the speculum faint, but glossed with green 

 and tinged with reddish ; the secondaries terminally edged 

 Avith w^hite, and their coverts with reddish-Avhite. The tail- 

 feathers marked like the back. The loAver parts are reddish- 

 white, marked with oblong dusky spots ; the longer feathers 

 of the sides obliquely, the axillars transversely barred. The 

 scapulars and inner secondaries are less elongated ; and the 

 tail is much shorter, the middle feathers projecting little 

 beyond the rest. 



Length to end of tail 21 inches ; extent of Avings 83 ; 

 Aving from flexure 9;^ ; tail of ; bill along the ridge 1|^ ; 

 tarsus 1 jY ; middle toe l^V, its claAv -^. 



Habits. — This elegantly formed and beautifully coloured 

 species is not uncommon in Avinter and spring in some parts 

 of England, but is of rare occurrence even in the south of 

 Scotland, and very uncommon north of the Tay. It is said, 

 hOAvever, to be " pretty abundant in many parts of Orkney, 

 but especially in Sanday, migrating northAvard commonly 

 in March." In Ireland it is " a regular Avinter visitant, 



