570 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



white, every feather liaving an obscure grey centre except the axillaries, some 

 of the under wing-coverts, and the longest under tail-coverts. Young in 

 first plumage closely resemble adult females, but tlie darker centres of the 

 feathers of the underparts are pale brown instead of grey. In this plumage 

 males may be distinguished from females by having the I)ack and breast a 

 somewhat darker brown, and by having more indications of a crest. Males 

 in first nuptial dress have the black of the underparts more suft'used with 

 brown, the white on the wings is not suifused with pink, and the colour of 

 the bill is much paler. Males in moulting-plumage very closely resemble 

 adult females, but may be distinguished by the brighter colour of their 

 bills and eyelids, by the greater development of their crests, by the darker 

 brown of the belly and under tail-coverts, and by the redder colour of the 

 feet. Young in down are described (Baldamus, Journ. Orn. 1870, p. 280) 

 as having the upper parts dull olive-grey, with a buff spot on each shoulder, 

 and the underparts buff; a buff stripe passes over each eye, and through 

 the eye a dark stripe passes, which divides into two behind the eye. From 

 this description it appears that the markings on the head resemble those of 

 the Pintail ; but the buff underparts and the absence of four of the six 

 pale spots on the back are sufficient marks of distinction. 



