3IO DUCK GROUP 



unsurpassed, both in the matter of swimmin^f and of divin<^. In most 

 species the drakes retain a non-breeding plumage, worn during the 

 time that the flight-feathers are in course of moulting, but information 

 on the subject of this double change of plumage and the length of time 

 during which the non-breeding dress is retained appears to be still 

 defective. None of them displays a bright " speculum " on the secondary 

 wing-quills, but the primaries may show a white or whitish wing-spot. 



The red-crested pochard (sometimes known as Fiiligula rufina) is 

 the sole representative of its genus, and takes its name from the 

 elongated feathers of the head of the drake when in breeding-plumage. 

 In addition to this, it is characterised by the rather long beak, which, 

 except for a downward bending at the tip, has a nearly straight profile ; 

 the nostrils, situated at about one-third the total length from the base, 

 and broad, prominent, widely separated transverse plates internally ; 

 the short and wedge-shaped tail, formed of sixteen feathers ; the large 

 feet ; and the depth of the lobe on the hind-toe. 



As indicated by its name, the male red-crested pochard is a striking 

 and handsomely coloured bird, measuring 2 i inches in length from beak 

 to tail. In marked contrast to the brilliant crimson of the beak, the 

 feathers of the crest are golden bay, and those of the rest of the head 

 and the neck cinnamon-red ; the throat, lower part of the neck and 

 the upper portion of the breast are deep velvety black, as is the lower 

 portion of the back ; the rest of the back is yellowish brown ; the 

 flanks, a patch across the base of the scapulars, the lesser wing-coverts, 

 and a patch on the primary quills are white ; the eyes are red and the 

 feet reddish orange. When this brilliant breeding-plumage is discarded 

 the bird is almost unrecognisable, as it loses its stately crest, and 

 becomes practically of the .same sombre hue as its partner at all 

 seasons. As regards the dress of the duck, it will suffice to state that 

 there is no crest on the crown of the head, which is dark brown, while 

 the cheeks and throat are greyish white, and the remainder of the 

 plumage, with the exception of the white under-parts, pale brown ; the 

 beak and legs being reddish brown. Young birds are like their female 

 parent; while the ducklings, when in down, are uniformly brown, tinged 

 with drab above, except for an indistinct yellowish spot on each side 

 of the lower part of the back, a streak of dusky olive on the line of 

 the eye, and the sides of the face, which arc of the same pale yellow 

 as the lower surface of the body. 



The Mediterranean countries, and thence eastwards by way of the 

 Klack and Caspian Seas to Persia and Eastern Turkestan, constitute the 

 proper home and breeding-resorts of the red-crcstcd pochard. From 



