34 ANAS BOSCHAS. 



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

 1, greatest breadth 1 ; tarsus 1-|4; fii'st toe -^, its claw -^ ; 

 second toe 1 j\, its claw -^ ; third toe 2 ; its claw -^ ; fourth 

 toe IjY, its claw -^. 



Female. — The female is considerably smaller, and very 

 differently coloured. The bill is grcenish-gi-ey, darker toward 

 the base ; the plumage of the upper parts dusky brown, the 

 feathers edged with pale reddish-brown ; the throat whitish ; 

 the lower parts yellowish-grey, faintly streaked and spotted 

 with brown ; the speculum as in the male ; the middle tail- 

 feathers straight. 



Length to end of tail 20 inches ; extent of wings 32. 



Variations. — Individuals sometimes, though very rarely, 

 are more or less variegated w'ith white. Sir William Jardine 

 says, " we have seen Drakes having the upper parts of a 

 bluish-grey, the dark breast paler." Mr. Yarrell mentions 

 " two instances in which females of this species have assumed 

 to a considerable extent the appearance of the plumage of the 

 Mallard, even to the curled feathers of the tail." 



Changes of Plumage. — The females renew their plumage 

 annually in autumn, as do the males. But the latter undergo 

 a singular change in summer, which is thus described by Mr. 

 Water ton : — " About the 24 th of May the breast and back of 

 the Drake exhibits the first appearance of a change of colour. 

 In a few days after this the curled feathers above the tail drop 

 out, and grey feathers begin to a})pear amongst the lovely 

 green plumage which surrounds the eyes. Every succeeding 

 day now brings marks of rapid change. By the 23rd of June 

 scarcely one green feather is to be seen on the head and neck 

 of the bird. By the 6th of July every feather of the former 

 brilliant plumage has disappeared, and the male has received 

 a garb like that of the female, though of a somcAvhat darker 

 tint. In the early part of August this ncAV plumage begins 

 10 drop off gradually, and by the 10th of October the Drake 

 will appear again in all his rich magnificence of dress ; than 

 which scarcelv anvthing throughout the whole Midc field of 



