292 



DUCK GROUP 



wciijhs from i| lbs. to 2 lbs., is readily distinguished when in 

 breeding- plumage, as it is for the greater part of the year, by 

 the large white patch (not to be confused with the " speculum ") 

 formed by the wing-coverts, the white crown with a tinge of buff, 

 the rich chestnut, deepening into black on the throat, of the rest 

 of the head and the neck, the grey back and flanks marked with 

 narrow black and white wavy lines, the bright metallic green wing- 

 " speculum " bordered in front by a black bar formed by the tips of the 

 greater coverts and above bv two white bars constituting the outer 



WIGKON (duck and DKAKI.). 



edges of the innermost secondaries, the cinnamon-tinged chestnut of 

 the upper part of the breast, the white of the rest of the under-parts, 

 with the exception of the black under tail-coverts, and the pale blue 

 beak tipped with black. From July to September the drake reverts 

 to the non-breeding plumage, when he is distinguishable from the duck 

 merel\- by his deeper colouring, especially on the fore part of the breast 

 and flanks, which are mahogany-red, and the retention of a few of the 

 black-and-white-lined feathers of the back. In the duck, at all seasons, 

 in addition to the white wing-patch, the head and neck are wood- 

 brown spotted with black, the feathers of the back dark brown with 

 pale margins, the wing-coverts dusk}- with white edges, the "speculum" 

 greyish green, the flanks of a richer brown than the neck, and the tail- 



