BIEDS OF EGYPT. 291 



scapulars, wings, and tail black ; primaries shading into 

 white on the inner web ; vent, under tail-coverts, and thighs 

 black ; chest and abdomen white ; beak slaty grey, with a 

 black tip ; legs black ; irides yellow. 



The female has no crest, and is generally browner in 

 colour. 



Entire length 16 inches; culmen TO; wing, carpus to 

 tip, S ; tarsus 1-3. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 370. 



318. Erismatura i.eucocephala (Scop.). White-headed 



Duel: 



(Plate XII.) 



The White-headed Duck is tolerably plentiful in Lower 

 Egypt ; but I am not aware of its having been met with on 

 the Nile above Cairo. Its favourite liaunts are the great 

 brackish-water lakes of Mareotis and Menzaleh ; and it is 

 probably to be met with in the Fayoom, though I do not 

 know of an instance of its capture there. It is an extremely 

 good diver, and prefers to keep to the water instead of 

 taking to flight, unless very closely pursued. I only met 

 with it alive on one occasion, on I^akc Mareotis ; when I shot 

 one on the water, believing at the time that it was wounded. 

 I have also seen it occasionally in the Alexandrian market. 



The description is taken from one of my Egyptian speci- 

 mens, the colour of the beak, legs, and irides having been 

 noted at the time. 



Bealy swollen ai Ihe base ; (ail-ferifhers lovg, narrow, and 

 ^fiff; head white, all except the top, which is bhifk ; bark of 



I -1 



