POCHARD. 



237 



in either sex ; chin and tliroat pale greyish-brown ; lower part 

 of the neck in front dark brown ; all the under surface of the 

 body uniform dull greyish- white ; under tail-coverts dark 

 grey ; legs and feet as in the male. 



Young males at first resemble the females, obtaining 

 some change with the feathers of their first autumn moult ; 

 the change in the colour of the feather going on by slow 

 degrees afterwards. As late as the middle of January, young 

 males of the previous summer had not attained their perfect 

 plumage ; and Dr. Fleming mentions that the black on the 

 breast of the young males does not make its appearance 

 during the first year. 



The trachea of the male is about eight inches in length, 

 the diameter of the tube large, tapering suddenly towards the 

 bottom ; the labyrinthic tympanum of beautiful form ; the 

 bronchial tubes short. The engraving below represents the 

 surface opposed to the left side of the bird. 



