BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



245 



about twenty-one inches. The female has the upper parts 

 deep brown, margined and barred with reddish-white; 

 under parts, light reddish-brown. 



THE Mallard (Anas boschas, Linnaeus) is a resident species 

 in the British Isles, and also inhabits most portions of the 

 Palearctic and Nearctic Regions. The adult male has the 

 head and neck glossy green ; followed by a collar of pure 

 white ; breast, deep chestnut-red ; mantle, chestnut-brown, 

 feathers margined with paler ; scapulars, greyish-white, ver- 

 miculated with brown ; rump and centre tail-feathers, which 

 are curled up, black ; lesser wing-coverts, greyish-brown ; 

 greater coverts, barred with white and tipped with black ; 

 speculum, brilliant violet, shading into black and tipped 



