ANAS PLATYRHYXCHA 161 



Measurements.—" Length 223 to 245 inches, wing lOio to US, tail 

 from vent i'2 to 4'8, tarsus 1"6 to 1'85, bill from gape 2'o to 2'7.5. ^Yeight 

 if in fair condition 2 lbs. 8 ozs. to 3 lbs., but T have shot them up to 

 i lbs." {Hume.) 



"Total length about 24 inches, wing lO'oO to H'oO, tail 44, culmen 2'2, 

 tarsus 1'85." (Salvadori.) 



Female. — Chin and throat pale-hutf ; remainder of upper and lower 

 parts dark-brown with buff edges; on the lower parts the brown centres 

 are reduced to streaks only; rectrices brown, edged with pale-butf ; wings 

 as in the male. 



The depth of the brown and its tint vary very much, as does the 

 boldness of the edging. In some birds the centres and edges blend into 

 one another, whilst in others they contrast very distinctly. 



Measurements.— Length 20'0 to 2175 inches, wing 9'2 to lO'B, tail, 

 from vent 41 to 4'7, tarsus 1'5 to 17, bill from gape 2'47 to 2'63. 

 Weight 1 lb. 10 ozs. to 2 lbs. 10 ozs. 



Adult Male in non-breeding Plumage.— Similar to the female, but 

 usually a good deal blacker. 



Young in first Plumage.—" Closely resembles adult female, but the 

 male is somewhat darker in colour." (Salvadoil.) 



Young in Down " has the upper parts dark-brown, with nearly white 

 spots on the wing, scapulars, and sides of the rump ; the underparts 

 are pale brown, palest on the belly, and shading into bufi' on the throat ; 

 it has a buff stripe over the eye, a dark-brown stripe through the eye, 

 and a dark spot at the end of the ear-coverts." (Seebohm.) 



Waterton, as quoted by Hume, describing the change of plumage in 

 the drake into its post-nuptial plumage, says : — 



" At the close of the breeding-season the drake undergoes a very re- 

 markable change of plumage. About the 24th May the breast and back 

 of the drake exhibit the first appearance of a change of colour. In a 

 few days after this the curled feathers above the tail drop out, and grey 

 feathers begin to appear amongst the lovely green plumage which sur- 

 rounds the eyes. Every succeeding day now brings marks of rapid 

 change. By the 23rd June scarce one single green feather is to l^e seen 

 on the head and neck of the bird. By the (ith of July, every feather 

 of the former In-illiant plumage has disappeared, and the male has 

 received a garb like that of the female, though of a somewhat darker 

 tint. In the early part of August this new plumage begins to drop off 

 gradually ; and by the 10th Octol:)er, the drake will appear again in all 

 its rich magnificence of dress." 



Distribution. — Harterfc gives the range of the Mallard as Europe, 

 the Azores, North Africa, North and Central Asia to Japan and North 

 America, migrating in winter to the Canaries, Abyssinia, Aden, India 



