Tea. NATATORES. QUERQUEDULA. 317 
opinion. The distribution of the present species extends 
over a great part of Europe and Northern Asia, as well as 
the American Continent; and during winter, the period of 
its migratory movements, it is very abundant in France, 
Holland, Germany, &c.—The trachea of the male is of small 
but equal diameter throughout its length ; the lower larynx 
is formed of a large bony arch, on the left of which is a small 
globular ampulla, about the size of a pea. The flesh of this 
bird is very tender, and highly prized at the table. 
Prate 54. Fig. 1. The Male. 
Bill black. Ivides brown. Crown of the head, cheeks, 
sides and front of the neck, reddish-brown. Enclosing 
the eye, and proceeding as far as the nape of the neck, 
is a large patch or band of glossy duck-green, bordered 
by a white line. Chin black. Sides of the lower part 
of the neck, back, scapulars, and flanks, beautifully 
rayed with zigzag lines of black and white. Wing- 
coverts hair-brown, tinged with grey; those covering 
the secondaries having yellowish tips, and forming a 
bar across the wings. Middle of the speculum glossy 
duck-green; with the feathers on either side velvet- 
black. Front of the neck and breast cream-white, with 
round black spots. Belly and abdomen white. Under 
tail-coverts cream-yellow, divided and bordered by a 
band of velvet-black. Tail wedge-shaped, consisting of 
fourteen feathers, pale hair-brown, margined with white. 
Legs clove-brown. 
Towards the end of summer the male loses in a great mea- 
sure his distinctive markings, acquiring a plumage not 
very different from that of the female ; which he retains 
till the general moult. 
Fig. 2. The Female. 
Head and hinder part of the neck pale sienna-yellow, 
streaked with deep hair-brown. Throat and cheeks 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Male. 
Female. 
