388 Bigelow, Hybrids between Mallard and other Ducks. [Act* 



black frame and white bars as in that species. This pattern is 

 very different from the Baldpate speculum. Immediately ante- 

 rior to the speculum is a large light gray patch, apparently the 

 remnant of the white patch on the wing of the Baldpate. The 

 legs and feet are yellowish. 



To summarize: Pure Mallard characters of this specimen are: 



(1) green color of the postocular region, the emerald tint being very 

 different from the lighter green on the head of the male Baldpate; 



(2) chestnut breast; (3) dark rump; (4) speculum and white 

 frame; (5) color of legs and feet. Baldpate characters are: (1) 

 color, size and shape of bill; (2) cream-colored cheeks; (3) white 

 belly; (4) salmon tint on shoulders; (5) black markings on tertials; 

 (6) light patch on the wing. There are no new characters appear- 

 ing in this hybrid. 



Without endeavoring to draw any conclusions from the inheri- 

 tance of the parental characters — indeed the material is far too 

 scanty — I may call attention to one or two striking results. There 

 are four Mallard characters appearing in all of the hybrids. These 

 are the chestnut breast band, the white frame about the speculum, 

 the dark rump, and the presence of 'Mallard green' somewhere 

 on the head. Likewise the color and size of legs and feet agree 

 with the Mallard in both the cases in which the two parents differ 

 in this respect. The curly tail coverts, likewise, appear in three 

 out of the four cases, and may very probably have been present in 

 the fourth. On the other hand, size, shape and color of bill agree 

 with the other parent, in both cases where the two differ in this 

 character. Finally, the new characters appearing in the hybrids 

 are worthy of special attention. These are two, the green speculum 

 in the Pintail hybrid, and the rufous markings on the lower tail 

 coverts in both Black Duck hybrids. The first of these, being an 

 iridescent color, may perhaps be really the manifestation of inter- 

 mediate structure. The second is not easy to explain. 



