200 WATER FOIVL. 



bluish gra)^ Iris, brown. Total length, about 17 irtches; wing, 

 7^; culmen, i; tarsus, i^. 



The male in summer has a much duller plumage than in win- 

 ter, and the pattern of the coloration not so clearly and sharply 

 defined. In some portions of his dress at this season he resem- 

 ble? the adult female, and is not such a brave-looking gallant as 

 he appears in the winter garb. 



You}ig JA?/t'.— White markings of head and neck, less pure 

 than in the adult, and the bar alongside the black on crown 

 is 3^ellowish brown, somewhat mixed with white. Head and 

 neck, dusky, with a bluish tinge. Back and wings, dusk}-; edges 

 of feathers, paler. Some of the tertials with white centers. No 

 speculum. Tips of greater coverts, pale grayish brown, forming 

 bar on the wing. Rump, sooty brown. Upper tail coverts, sooty, 

 tipped with pale brown. Tail, light brown. The white collar 

 at base of neck merely indicated, and the white bars before the 

 bend of the wing about half as long as in the adult. Breast and 

 under parts, sooty brown, mottled with white, lightest (almost 

 white) on lower breast, and becoming reddish brown on under 

 tail coverts. Flanks, pale chestnut. 



Young. — Resembles the female, but darker above; the upper 

 part of breast, sides, flanks, and under tail coverts, tinged with 

 brown. 



Downy Young. — Top of head and nape, blackish brown; 

 cheeks and neck, white; upper parts, blackish brown; a white 

 spot on each wing and thigh; under parts, white. 



