SPATTTLA CLYPEATA 235 



the former tint predominating ; rectriees brown, edged white, increasingly 

 broader on the outer ones : lower breast, flanks and abdomen rich rufous- 

 chestnut, some of the feathers on the posterior and inferior flanks lighter 

 and vermiculated with brown ; thiglis the same but duller ; sometimes a 

 few black spots on the breast ; wing-coverts a beautiful blue-grey, some 

 of those next the inner secondaries glossed Prussian-blue on the terminal 

 quarter of the outer web : greater coverts more brown, forming a wing-bar 

 next the sjieculum : one of the outer scapulars brilliant grey-blue, others 

 black glossed with green and with white centres : tertiaries deep brown- 

 black, glossed witli green, turning to blue at the tips ; quills dark brown ; 

 speculum a brilliant metallic green : under tail-coverts black, glossed with 

 blue-green : flanks next tail-coverts white. 



Colours of soft parts. — Bill black; legs orange, claws homy-l)rown : 

 irides yellow, orange or orange-red. 



" In the male in winter the bill is black, usually with a greyish sliade ; 

 in some it may he called leaden dusky. In November, when they first 

 arrive, and in tlie case of birds of the year until mucli later, the bills of the 

 males are like those of the females. 



"The irides vary; as a rule, in the male from yellow to reddish orange, 

 but I have recorded them as brown in two or three males. 



" The legs and feet vary from orange to Indian or tile-red, and are 

 usually brighter coloured in both sexes in the spring, and at the same 

 season in the male than in the female. The webs are often dusky towards 

 their margin." (Hiotifi.) 



Measurements.—" Length about 20 inches, wing 9':3 to 'J'8, tail about 

 3'5, bill from gape about 3, tarsus 1'4. 



" Length 197 to 21'75 inches, expanse 2975 to 32"S, wing <) to 9'8, 

 tail from vent 3'6 to 4, tarsus 1'2 to 1'5, bill from gape 2'95 to 3'05. 

 Weight 1 lb. 3 ozs. tn 1 lb. 14 ozs." (Hume.) 



Post-nuptial pluniage. — After the breeding-season tlie male assumes 

 the plumage of the female, but may always be distinguished by the 

 speculum on the wing, generally darker, less marked upper parts, and 

 the plain dark upper tail-coverts. 



Blanford says : " It is rare in India, so far as my experience goes, 

 to see a male in full plumage before the end of February " ; but I should 

 note that I have a male in splendid plumage shot in November. 



Female. — The whole upper plumage brown, each feather edged with 

 pale rufous or dirty rufous-white ; wing-coverts grey ; quills brown, with 

 faint traces of the speculum, and the white terminal bar to the wing- 

 coverts well-defined. Lower parts dull brownish-buff, varying a good 

 deal in depth and tint, the brown l)ases to the feathers showing through 

 in dark crescentic l)ands on the breast, flanks, and sides, but not at all 

 or only slightly, on the abdomen ; cliin immaculate ; neck and sides 

 of head speckled with dark brown. 



Most ducks, but not all, have a well-defined white loreal spot speckled 

 with brown. 



