22 



DUCK GROUP 



[jjencric characters are displayed by the nearly straight profile of the 

 beak, in which the nostrils are set rather nearer the tip than the base, 

 while the transverse plates on its inner surface are short, stout, and 

 somewhat widel>' separated ; the long and pointed wings ; the short 

 and backwardly-placed legs ; the broad shield-like scales on the front 

 surface of the shank of the leg ; and the deep lobe to the hind-toe. 



The golden-eye is a large duck, measuring 1 8 inches in length, 

 and weighing from a couple of pounds to two pounds six ounces. The 

 large white patch at the base of the beak affords an unmistakable 



goi.i)i:n-kyks (dlck and dkakk) 



means of recognising the drake when in the ordinary breeding-plumage, 

 the rest of the head, the upper part of the neck, and the back being 

 glossy greenish black ; in contrast to this is the white of the lower 

 portion of the neck, the breast, the scapulars (which are edged with 

 black), and the wings, with the exception of the black primary quills, 

 coverts, and a transverse bar ; while the beak is blue-black, and the eyes, 

 legs, and toes are orange-yellow. The non-breeding dress assimilates 

 to the permanent livery of the female, except for the retention of the 

 wing-markings of the other costume, with faint traces of the white face- 

 patch. In females and young birds the latter is replaced by chocolate, 

 while dark grey is substituted for black elsewhere ; on the wing the 

 greater coverts and the wing-spot are alone white, divided by a black 



