284 



DUCK GROUP 



although it undoubtedly represents the non-breeding dress of 

 latter. It is frequently spoken of as the "eclipse-plumage," 

 this is a somewhat misleading term and tends to obscure the 

 important fact that the special gay breeding-plumage is worn 

 the greater part of the year instead of for only a short period, 

 this respect, therefore, the mallard and certain other species present con- 

 ditions just the reverse of those obtaining in most other birds, where the 

 breeding-dress is donned only for a comparatively brief period. 



the 

 but 



all- 

 for 

 In 



M.\L1,.\KD .\ND WILD DUCK. 



By its founder Linna;;us the genus Anas was taken to include the 

 great majority of the ducks, but it is now restricted to the mallard 

 and some sixteen other species, of which none are British. Apart 

 from the fact that the number of tail-feathers is from sixteen to eighteen, 

 the main characteristics of the genus as thus restricted are negative 

 rather than positive. The beak, for instance, is not excessively ex- 

 panded at the tip, neither are any of the tail-feathers markedly longer 

 than their fellows, while there is no chestnut on the inner secondary 

 quills, the wing-coverts are grey without any blue, and the body-plumage 

 is uniformly mottled. There is a bright metallic " speculum," and a 

 double annual moult. 



A fine mallard will measure 24 inches in length and will weigh as 



