The Pochards. 3 1 7 



are white and the under wing-coverts 

 nearly entirely so. 



The adult male in the post-nuptial 

 plumage resembles the female so closely 

 that it can hardly be separated by any 

 definite characters. 



Ducklings of both sexes change from 

 down into a first plumage which resembles 

 that of the adult female. Many of the 

 feathers, however, of the upper plumage 

 have paler margins, and the sides of the 

 body are not vermiculated. The young 

 drake assumes the plumage of the old 

 male by a gradual series of changes. 



Male: length about 18; wing8|; tail 

 about 2\. Female: length about 17I ; 

 wing 8 ; tail 2\. The bill is black at the 

 base and the tip, bluish in the middle ; 

 irides orange-yellow ; legs and feet leaden 

 grey. Weight up to rather more than 

 2 1 lb. 



