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flanks are white, with fine black wavy Hnes, forming the type of 

 pattern technically known as " vermiculated " ; the greater wing-coverts 

 are tipped with reddish buff and white, which make the front border 

 of the dark " speculum " of the wing, and the under-parts, with the 

 exception of the velvety black lower tail-coverts, are white. A black- 

 line traverses the middle of the otherwise wholly grey beak. In the 

 non- breeding plumage, which is worn during July, August, and 

 September, the drake approximates to his partner, from which, 

 however, he may be distinguished by the brown head and neck. 



I'lNTAII.S (DL'CK. AND iJKAKK). 



spotted and flecked with white, the dusky tone of the back, where 

 each feather is crossed by a narrow transverse huffish white bar, and 

 by the retention in this region of more or fewer of the " vermiculated " 

 feathers of the breeding-dress. In the duck the head is dark brown — 

 darkest on the crown — flecked with black streaks ; the back is dusky, 

 with broad transverse white and buff wavy barrings, the secondaries 

 and greater coverts are tipped with white so as to form two narrow 

 wing-bars, there is no distinct wing-" speculum," or merely a gloss of 

 bronzy green in its place, the flanks are brown, with broad white horse- 

 shoe-like markings, and the under-parts whitish, heavily flecked with 

 brown. By the long neck, white wing-bars, and buff-barred tail-feathers, 

 the female is easily distinguished from any other duck. Young birds 

 in their first plumage are like their female parent, and the downy 

 duckling may be recognised by the white streak above each eye. 



