tHE WILD FOWL OF THE YANGTZE VALLEY. 33 



And here it may not be out of place to offer a suggestion. Let him who has never 

 done so before take a bird from the bag and make but a rude sketch of it : then let him try 

 his hand at a description of the plumage, and he shall discover such countless combinations 

 and permutations of the seven primary colours, and such a variety of tints as were never 

 dreamt of in his philosophy. 



The task, which after all would prove to be a pleasure, would make such an indelible 

 impression upon the memory that he would never be in doubt again as to the species of the 

 bird in question, and might possibly be grateful for the hint here thrown out. 



For all practical purposes duck and teal may be divided into two well defined and 

 clearly distinct classes "the surface feeding species, or those that never dive to obtain food 

 further than they can reach without entirely submerging their bodies, or the diving ducks, 

 or those that do dive to procure food from the bottom of the water." (Badminton.) 



Ducks. 



Of the l8 varieties of wild fowl hereafter named but five belong to the diving species. 



The Common Wild Duck {Anas boschas) from its frequency and popularity may well 

 head the list of the surface feeding ducks. The head and neck of the drake, the Mallard, 

 are a rich glossy green: perfect white collar round the neck, and short crisp curly tail 

 feathers. Weight 2 lbs. to' 2j^ lbs. There is also another duck, locally known as the 

 black or yellow-nib duck {Anas zonoryncha), a larger bird with black bill and orange band 

 across it. Weight from 2/^ to 3 lbs. 



The Ruddy Sheldrake {Casarca riitila) is one of the handsomest of ducks, "vividly 

 marked in contrasts of chestnut, black and white." Head and neck glossy green: white 

 breast and belly, yellow bill: broad rich rufous brown band from the lower end of the 

 back of the neck which crosses the breast : tail white with black tips. Weight 3 lbs. 

 and more. 



The Widgeon {Mareca penelope) may be recognised by its light fawn crest, rich 

 rufous neck, light reddish grey breast : grey mottled back, white-barred wings and long tail. 

 Weight from lJ4 to i^ lbs. 



The Pintail {Dafila acuta) one of the largest. of the duck family, sometimes called the 

 sea pheasant by reason of the great length of the two central tail feathers of the male. Its 

 head and neck are a rich dark brown, and its back is pencilled with black on a grey ground. 

 Throat, breast and belly snowy white. Weight 3 lbs. and up. 



The Shoveller Duck {Spatula clypeata) is uncommonly like the ordinary grey ducks in 

 appearance, and at Kiukiang it has more than once been shot by mistake. The breast 

 feathers are covered with tiny crescent shaped pencillings, which are a sure means by which 

 to recognize the species. Ordinary weight 2 lbs. 



Teal. 



The Common Teal {Querquedula creccd) most delicious of table birds, is found in great 

 numbers throughout China. Its distinguishing marks are rich chestnut brown head, upper 

 half of face dark, glossy green : lower half rich chestnut. Above and below the eye run two 

 narrow streaks of buff sharply dividing the green and chestnut. Breast tinged with purple 

 and covered with circular black spots. Weight 14 oz. to I lb. 



