302 INDIAN DUCKS 



(45) OXYURA LEUCOCEPHALA. 



THE WHITE-HEADED OR STIFF-TAIL DUCK. 



Anas leucocephala, Scopoli, Ann. I. H/.^t. Nat. p. 65 (1769) (North 

 Italy). 



Erismatura leucocephala, nmnr tf- Marsh. Game-B. iii, p. 289 ; Hume, 

 S. F. viii, p. 450; ix, p. 296: x, p. 158; Salradori, Cat. B. M. xxvii, 

 p. 442 ; F. Finn, V. A. S. B. 1896, p. 62 ; Sherwood, J. B. N. H. S. 

 xi, p. 150 ; rnwni, ibid. p. 1(')9 ; Slnart Baler, iliid. xiii, p. 20 (1900) ; 

 Macnali, il>id. p. 1H2; Blanford, Avifauna B. I. iv, p. 466; Oates, 

 Game-B. ii, pp. 374, 375 ; Stuart Baker, Indian Ducks, p. 255 (1908) ; 

 Tenison, J. B. N. II. S. xix, p. 264 (1909) ; Loijan-Huinc, ibid, xx, 

 p. 1156 (1911) ; Baih'u, ibid, xxiv, p. 599 (1916). 



Oxyura leucocephala, Hartcrt, Voij. Pal p. 1373 (1920). 



Description. Adult Male.—" Crown black ; forehead, sides of the head, 

 Including the space above the eye, chin and nape ]nn-e wliite ; below this 

 white the neck all round is black : lower neck and Ijreast chestnut-red, 

 with narrow blackish bars ; back, scapulars, sides, and flanks reddish 

 chestnut, more or less huffish, and finely and irregularly verniiculated 

 with blackish ; upper tail-coverts deep chestnut ; under parts, below the 

 breast, reddish buffy white ; wings brown-grey, the wing-coverts and 

 secondaries finely vermiculated with butfy-white ; under wing-coverts 

 grey, the central ones whitish ; axillaries white ; tail blackish ; bill blue ; 

 iris dark brown ; feet ashy-brown, with the webs black. Total length 

 about IH'5 inches, wing 6'5, tail 4'5, culmen r9, tarsus 1"3." {Salvadori.) 



Measurements.— " Total length about 18 inches, tail 3'5 (3 to 4"5), wing 

 6'3, tarsus 1, bill from gajie 1'9." {Blanford.) 



" Females and Young' Males have only the chin, lower cheeks, and a 

 stripe from above the gape, running back under the eye towards the nape, 

 white, rest of the head black mixed with rufous : the upper tail-coverts are 

 like the rest of the upper parts, and the breast is dull rufous without black 

 bars. Otherwise the plumage resembles that of adult males. Some speci- 

 mens are much more rufous than others." {Blanford.) 



Colours of soft parts.—" Bill dull plumbeous ; irides dark brown ; legs 

 plumbeous-black." {Salcadori.) 



Capt. Macnab gives the dimensions of a female as follows : — 



Measurements.— " Length 16^ inches, wing 65, tail from vent 34, tarsus 

 IS, hind toe and claw 2i, l)ill at point If, bill from gape Is." 



