36 



BIRD NAMES. 



[No. 13. 



Tail gray, with black about its roots, its elongated central feath- 

 ers black,' or nearly so. Front of neck, and under parts gener- 

 ally, white, tinged more or less with yellowish or rusty stain ; the 

 white of neck branching into the dark color above, as shown in 

 picture. Bill -black, turning to bluish gray along its sides. Legs 

 and feet bluish gray. 



Measurements about as follows : length twenty-nine inches 

 (but governed, of course, greatly by variable development of 

 central tail-feathers); extent thirty -six inches; bill, measured 

 along top (from feathering at base) two to two and three- 

 sixteenth inches, and narrow, with sides nearly parallel. 



No. 13. Female. 



Adult female. Plumage very different from full -dressed 

 drake : a quietly clothed " gray duck." Central feathers of tail 

 projecting but slightly beyond those next them. Upper plu- 

 mage principally dark grayish brown, variegated with cream 

 color, the latter tint deepening here and there into tan, or paling 

 into white ; variegations closer about lower neck ; throat pale 

 buff ; remainder of neck (all around) and most of head marked 

 with dusky streaks and dots upon a buff or pale-brown ground ; 

 top of head darker ; iridescence of speculum very imperfect, 



