418 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



measure on an average 2'1 inches in length by 1'5 inch in breadth. The down tufts 

 are small in size, warm brown in colour, and without any white tips. The period of 

 incubation is unknown. It is a noteworthy fact that the drake of this species 

 assists the duck in bringing up the young, moulting much earlier than is usual in 

 this group into his post-nuptial plumage, and remaining in this garb until the 

 brood can fly. During the breeding season this Back is very tame and most 

 unwilling to take wing, generally swimming out into the centre of the large lakes 

 for security. When the brood of ducklings is menaced, the female tries to get 

 her offspring to follow her out into the open water, and is said to display great 

 anxiety for their safety. One brood only is reared in the year. 



Diagnostic Characters (Nuptial plumage), Harelda, with the pre- 

 vailing colour of the head and neck white (but with an oval patch of brown on 

 each side of the latter), with the tail (of 14 feathers) white, except the two 

 central feathers, which are black and about five inches longer than the rest, and 

 with the scapulary region striped with white (adult male) ; with the axillaries 

 brown, with the sides of the head white, and the sides of the neck brown (adult 

 female). Length, 22 to 26 inches inclusive of the tail in the male. 



