THE GARGANEYS. 295 



ish ; iris brown. Total length, 14-5 inches ; culmen, 1 7 ; wing, 

 7 '6; tail, 3-0; tarsus, 1-3. 



Adult Female. Darker than the female of Q. querquedula^ and 

 easily distinguished by its blue wings and dusky speculum ; the 

 under surface of the body deep buff, thickly mottled with brown 

 centres to the feathers, very broad on the flanks. Total length, 

 14 inches ; wing, 7*0. 



Range in Great Britain. A purely accidental visitor, of which 

 only one authentic occurrence is known, a male bird having 

 been shot near Dumfries. The species has also been procured 

 in Denmark, in April, 1886. 



Range outside the British Islands North America in general, 

 but chiefly east of the Rocky Mountains, in winter, the whole 

 of the West Indies and Middle America, south to Ecuador 

 (Ridgiuay). 



Habits. Similar to those of Q. ' querquedula. 

 Eggs. Pale buff. Axis, 1*84 inch; diam., i'34- 



