188 INDIAN DUCKS 



throat more or less black also ; back, sides of neck and upper breast, flanks, 

 scapulars, rump, and shorter upper taiL-covorts vermiculated bIackish-l)rown 

 and white, the rumji and upper tail-coverts with tlie white predominating, 

 longer upper tail-coverts black ; central rectrices brownish-black, getting 

 ]ialer on eacli succeeding pair, the outer pairs being also tipped white ; 

 upper breast and lower neck and sides of lower breast vinous-red; under tail- 

 coverts black, rest of under plumage white ; smallest wing-coverts greyish- 

 brown, more or less vermiculated white ; primary-coverts vinous-grey, 

 remaining coverts white ; the greater secondary-coverts tipped black ; 

 primaries brown, pale-shafted except at the tips ; outermost secondaries 

 brilliant metallic-green, broadly edged and tipped black; outer web of next 

 secondary pure-white, edged black ; inner secondaries black, edged white, 

 and greyish on the inner webs. 



Colours of soft parts.— " Irides deep red-brown; bill grey-blue, livid- 

 blue or bluish-plumbeous, the tip black; legs dusky-lead, lead-grey, or, 

 rarely, greenish lead-colour, dusky on the joints and webs and with the 

 claws dark. 



Measurements. " Males (Adults). — Length 19'0 to 19o inches, expanse 

 3275 to 34'5, wing 10 to 10'5, tail from vent I'O to 4'6, tarsus 1'4 to 1'6, 

 bill from gape 17 to 1'82, Weight 1 lb. 5 ozs. to 1 lb. 10 ozs." {Hume.) 



During the early part of the cold weather tlie feathers of the breast have 

 grey edges, which make tlie whole breast a pale greyish-vinous ; as the 

 season progresses the edges wear off, and the breast gets richer in colour in 

 consequence. 



Adult Female. — Head and neck pale reddish-brown, richer posteriorly 

 and paler below, speckled with very dark brown ; rest of plumage above 

 brown with pale edges to tlie feathers, varying from almost white to rufous, 

 the scapulars and inter-scapulars more or less barred with the same ; 

 smaller wing-coverts like the back, median the same but with broader 

 edges ; greater coverts witli still broader, paler edges ; quills plain-brown ; 

 a dull blackish -brown speculum edged by the outer secondaries more or less 

 tipped white, and with the secondary next the speculum having tlie outer 

 web liroadly white ; innermost secondaries edged with fulvous. Lower neck 

 and breast reddish-brown, sometimes speckled with darker; lower breast, 

 abdomen, and vent, varying from white to uniform pale, rather bright 

 rufous-buff, the flanks and axillaries darker and often more or less spotted 

 brown. Under tail-coverts the same as the abdomen, but with the feathers 

 centred dark. 



Colours of soft parts.— Bill slaty-blue, nail black, the base of the maxilla 

 often darker, the mandible with the commissure, base, and often the tip 

 darker and nearly black. Irides from light dull to deep bright brown ; 

 legs grey or drab marked with dusky as in the male. 



Measurements.—" Length 17'8 to 19'25 inches, expanse 31'o to 34'0, 

 wing 9'3 to 10'5, tail from vent 3'5 to 5, tarsus 1'4 to ITi, bill from gape 

 1'68 to 1'8. Weight 1 lb. 3 ozs. to 1 lb. 10 ozs. (Note that only one 

 female out of twenty-seven weighed more than 1 lli. 9 ozs.).'' [Htivic.) 



