No. 8.] 



BIRD NAMES. 



lighter lines, this coloration turning to a more distinct pattern 

 of dusky and white lines over base of tail ; the tail itself chiefly 

 brownish gray. Fore part of wing, with broad field of white ; 

 back of this white, a glossy green wing-mark, or speculum, bor- 

 dered with black; the lower halves of inner secondaries (long 

 feathers starting at first joint from body) black ; remainder of 

 wing chiefly brownish gray, with a few feathers edged or tipped 

 with white. Breast and belly continuously pure white; the 

 feathers immediately beneath the tail black, this black continued 

 upward a little over root of tail, the Avhite of lower parts being 

 likewise continued upward at sides of rump. Bill light bluish 

 gray with black tip. Legs and feet bluish gray with darker webs. 

 We often find these drakes with green head-patch very im- 

 perfect, with little or no greenish gloss to speculum ; the latter 

 showing, instead, as a deep brown or blackish space ; top of head 

 considerably speckled ; white of wings pervaded to greater or 

 less extent by gray, and brownish red at sides of body, with very 

 few of the wavy markings above mentioned. 



Female. Head and neck streakily speckled with dark brown 

 and grayish white, changing to brown and light yellowish brown 

 on lower neck, fore-breast, and sides of body ; the darker brown 

 markings becoming less positive and almost disappearing along 



