160 INDIAN DUCKS 



(25) ANAS PffiCILORHYNCHA PCECILORHYNCHA. 



THE SPOT-BILL OR GREY DUCK. 



Anas pcecilorhyncha, Jcrdon, B. of I. iii, p. 799 ; Hume, S. F. i, p. 201 ; 

 Adaw, ibid. p. 402: Hume (f Davis, ihid. iv, p. 489; Hume, ibid, vii, 

 p. 507 ; id. ibid, viii, p. 115 ; Cat. No. 959 ; Hwne c(- Marsh. Game-B. 

 iii, p. 1(58; Leow, B. of C. p. 1073; Dates, B. of B. B. ii, p. 283; 

 Barncfi, B. of Bom. \). 403; Hume, A>,s/s and Eggs (Gates' ed.), iii, 

 p. 289 ; Salvadori, Cat. B. M. xxvii, p. 209 ; Blauford, Avifauna B. I. 

 iv, p. 436 ; Stuart Baker, J. B. N. H. S. xii, p. 11 ; id. Indian Ducks, 

 p. 133 (1908) ; Wlutehead, J. B. N. H. S. xxi, p. 169 (1912) ; Oliver, 

 ibid, xxvi, p. 675 (1919). 



Polionetta pcecilorhyncha, Gates, (iame-B. ii, p. 150. 



Description. Adult Male.— Crown from forehead to nape dark-brown, a 

 streak of tlie same colour covering the lores and running through the eye 

 to the hack of the ear-coverts ; remainder of head and neck huff- white, 

 more or less centred dusky, with the exception of the cliin and tliroat ; 

 upper parts lirown to brownish-hlack : the scapulars paler and edged 

 with pale hrown, as are some of the feathers of tiie hack ; rump and 

 upper tail-coverts deeper lirowu still ; tail the same, but darker and more 

 glossy, the feathers edged pale ; lesser and median wing-coverts grey, the 

 greater ones dark-grey, sul)tipped with white and tipped black ; speculum 

 glossy-green, Ijordered on cither side with black ; secondaries tipped white 

 and inner secondaries with the outer webs more or less broadly white, 

 remainder of wings brown : upper breast fulvous-white, the feathers spotted 

 with hrown ; alidomen yet darker and browner, and the under tail-coverts 

 almost black. " Speculum .... a rich emerald-green in most lights, 

 a lovely rich blue or pur|)le in others." {Hume.) The amount of white on 

 the inner secondaries varies a good deal, like tiie depth of colouration on tlie 

 lower surface, which is sometimes nearly white on the breast, whilst at 

 other times the whole of the lower parts are nearh unicoloured. The spots 

 seem to increase in size with age. 



Colours of soft parts.— Legs and feet deep coral-red, claws black ; irides 

 light- to dark-brown ; bill black, terminal third or less of the bill varying 

 from yellow to reddish-yellow or orange ; a spot at the base of the bill 

 on either side next the forehead orange-red to dee]) coral -red ; lower mandible 

 black-tipped, the same as the maxilla. 



Measurements.—" Length 23'8 to 25'9 inches, wing 10'6 to 11'2, tail 

 'rom vent 4'7 to 5'8, tarsus 1'84 to 1'93, bill from gape 2'4 to 2'75. Weight 

 2 lbs. 4 ozs. to 3 lbs. 5 ozs." (Hume.) 



