150 RIVER AND POND DUCKS 



somber, mottled female, except that the bill is dull olive green without spotting. 

 The full eclipse plumage is worn for about one month, during which time the 

 full-plumaged wing is renewed. 



AUTUMN PLUMAGE: Early in September, the male commences a continuous moult 

 out of the female-like plumage of the eclipse, into the full winter plumage. By 

 early October, the head shows a considerable amount of green, and new finely 

 vermiculated feathers show among the scapulars; plain brown feathers appear on 

 the back, and some black ones on the rump. The chest, breast, and sides begin 

 to take on the general pattern of the full winter plumage, but in varying degree, 

 the buffy-brown feathers of the eclipse plumage still predominate; the bill is olive 

 green and the jeet, dull reddish orange, with darker webs. 



In later stages, the green of the head is completed, the buffy-brown feathers 

 lingering longest on the cheeks; the white neck-ring becomes noticeable and the 

 full plumage of the back, scapulars and rump is assumed; the bill becomes more 

 yellowish and the feet a brighter orange red, losing the dusky on the webs. 

 Finally, the last of the buffy-brown feathers disappears from the chest, breast and 

 sides. Some birds regain their full plumage in October, some not until November 

 or even later. 



ADULT FEMALE. Head and neck, buff, streaked with brown, more darkly 

 and heavily streaked on crown; cheeks, paler; chin and throat, buffy, without streaks; 

 dark streak through eye, and sometimes another dark streak extending backwards 

 from gape; bill, orange to greenish olive, with brown or dusky on ridge, spotted 

 with darker, about as long as head; nail, dusky; eye, dark brown. Body. Entire 

 body variegated and streaked with dusky brown and tawny, having yellowish-brown 

 edges to the feathers; back and scapulars, most heavily marked; feathers of sides 

 of chest show distinct buffy and also brown U-shaped markings (lacking in 

 juveniles of both sexes); breast and belly, lightest; feet, pale orange red. Tail, 

 greyish brown, darker in middle, pale, almost whitish on margins; upper coverts, 

 same as back; under coverts, whitish, streaked like belly but with heavier dark 

 markings. Wings. Same as in male, but coverts sometimes slightly browner and 

 with paler feather edgings. 



JUVENILE. AUTUMN PLUMAGE: By September, the plumage of both sexes re- 

 sembles that of the adult female, but is darker and more brownish, especially 

 on back and chest, feathers of chest lack central markings of chest-feathers of 

 adult female; breast and belly streaked with brown. Young male shows vermicu- 

 lated feathers on flanks. Young males are larger than young females, and have 

 larger bills, lacking spotting of female bill. From this time on sexes differentiate 

 rapidly by an almost continuous moult. By December both sexes have practically 

 assumed adult plumage, though highest development of plumage is not acquired 

 until following year. Autumn moult of young male follows same sequence as 

 that of the adult male out of eclipse, but green of head is taken on more slowly, 

 and female-like feathers of back, chest and sides persist longer. Wing of Male. 

 As in adult male, but tertials, shorter, duller, and less suffused with chestnut 

 brown; greater coverts usually have narrower white tips. Wing of Female. As 

 in adult female, but tertials, shorter, browner, and more broadly edged with buff. 



SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION 



MALE. WINTER PLUMAGE: General effect: A large, strikingly-marked and beauti- 

 ful duck, with green head and neck, chestnut-red chest, and silvery-grey body. 

 Chief distinguishing features (a) hind toe without lobe, (b) green head and 



