26 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



spotted with black and tinged with purple, the under part 

 shading" to dusky white, and barred — or rather, waved — with 

 zigzag- black and white lines ; the back is also so barred, 

 with a ground colour of pale grey, shaded with dark brown 

 towards the tail. The wings are dark brown, very prettily 

 barred with g-lossy green, white, and rufous brown. The 

 tail is pale dusky brown, edged with white, except two 

 middle feathers, which are grey, edged with buff. The 

 female is not so handsome as the male, a brown patch 

 taking the place of the green streak running from the 

 eye to the back of the head. The green spangle upon 

 the wing is also darker, being more deeply tinged with 

 purple. 



When the young are first hatched they are covered 

 with a dark-coloured down ; but in about two months 

 they become like the female, the males not attaining 

 their full plumage until the middle of the succeeding 

 winter. 



About the end of July or beginning of August the 

 adult male assumes the duller plumage of the female. 



This bird, which has been aptly termed the " little 

 Wild Duck/' may be found pretty generally throughout 

 Europe, especially in Norway and Sweden, these latter 

 countries being their most popular breeding-places. They 

 are, however, plentiful in England, more especially in the 

 winter months, when a considerable migration takes place 

 from the Continent. 



There are some, however, that breed in England, 

 especially in low marshy districts, as they are more fond of 

 inland waters than the sea-side. They may generally be 

 found frequenting the edges of rivers, ponds, pools, lakes, 

 or such-like pieces of water; also in marshy grounds, and 



