198 WILD FOWL SHOOTING 
splendent and changeable; the rest of the neck the 
lower parts, the outer scapulars, and a large patch on 
the wing, including the greater part of the smaller 
coverts and some of the secondary coverts and quills 
pure white ; the scapulars narrowly margined with black 
as are the inner, lateral feathers ; the feathers on the: 
anterior edge of the wing are black, narrowly edged 
with white. Alula, primary coverts, and primary 
quills, deep black ; the feathers on the rump gradually 
fade into grayish white, and those of the tail are 
brownish gray, with the edges paler, and the shafts 
dusky. 
Length to end of tail fourteen one-half inches ; ex- 
tent of wings twenty-three, weight one pound. 
Adult Female-——The female is much smaller ; the 
plumage of the head is not elongated as in the male, 
but there is a ridge of longish feathers down the oc- 
ciput, and nape. Bill, darker than the male ; feet, gray- 
ish blue with webs of dusky; head, upper part of the 
neck, hind neck, back and wings grayish brown. A 
short transverse white bank, from beneath the eye, and 
a slight speck of the same on the lower eyelid. Six of 
the secondary quills white on the outer web; lower 
parts white, shaded with light grayish brown on the 
sides ; tail dull grayish brown. 
Length to end of tail thirteen inches. Extent of 
wings twenty-two one-fourth, weight eight ounces. 
These ducks are among the smallest of the duck 
tribe, and are very seldom shot, unless from sport of 
shooting, or unless the hunter is having an exceedingly 
hard run of luck, and finds nothing else toshoot. They 
are very swift of flight, and as they go through the air 
