SCAUP-DUCK 



317 



in having the head and neck black with a greenish sheen ; while the 

 duck may alwaj's be recognised by the white on the forehead and 

 around the base of the beak, coupled with the absence of a crest. In 

 addition to the foregoing features, the drake is characterised by the 

 dull brown colour of the lower part of the back, the white wing-bar, 

 with a greenish border, the blue beak, yellow eyes, and blue-black feet 

 and legs. In size and weight the scaup-duck is practically identical 

 with the pochard, the length of the drake being 1 8 inches and its 

 weight just short of 2^ lbs., while the duck weighs 2 lbs. In 

 the duck the white on the forehead forms a broad band round the 



HE ROWLAND WARD STUDiOS 



SCAUP-DUCK (male AND FEMALE) 



base of the beak, the remainder of the head, together with the neck 

 and breast, being dark brown ; the feathers of the back and scapular 

 region are brown finely laced (" vermiculated ") with black, the wings, 

 beak, and feet are coloured as in the drake, as is also the abdomen, 

 with the exception that the under tail-coverts display dusky plumage. 

 After mating, the drake assumes a non-breeding plumage for some 

 time, which is said to resemble the permanent dress of his partner, 

 although further particulars with regard to this are desirable. Birds 

 of the year are generally similar to the adult ducks, but the drakes 

 are always recognisable by the darker and richer tone of their colour- 

 ing ; the fully adult dress in the sex is, however, not attained till the 



