MISCELLANEOUS XOTES. 1087 



During our Christmas shoot at Tongyi, Mr. D. H. M. Boyle on 26th Decem- 

 ber was kicky enough to shoot one of a pair (female) of the above species. 

 In the flesh the difference between it and the common Burmese Grey were 

 most noticeable, and on comparison with a hen of that species the following 

 points were noted. 



Chinese Grey Duck (female). — Wing much more pointed, the 1st and 2nd 

 quills being of the same length, 3rd I- inch shorter than 2nd, 4th | inch 

 shorter than 3rd, oth ^ inch shorter than 4th. The two conspicuous black 

 shields (which are red in the true spotted-billed Duck) absent, their place 

 being entirely covered with feather. The yellow patch at the end of the 

 bill much narrower. The underwing coverts (inside wing) pure white. 

 Breast and under parts tinged with rust colour, and boldly streaked with 

 blackish brown, and not conspicuously spotted as in the Burmese Grey 

 Duck. Speculum — Consisting of firstly, a very narrow irregular greyish white 

 line, followed by a black one, both the above bars on the feathers imme- 

 diately above a wide dark greenish blue band, below this another black 

 band, some of the feathers narrowly edged with white. The outer edge of 

 only one long secondary wing feather edged with white. In fact very little 

 white in the wing when eompared to the Burmese species. When fresh 

 the coloured bar in the wing was a decided blue with a green tinge. It has 

 now faded to a dull green. Legs much paler, in colour and not a bright 

 red. 



Burmese Grey Duck (female). — Wing rounded, and quill \ inch longer 

 than 1st, Srd equal to Ist, 4th quill ^ inch shorter than 3rd, 5th quill 

 ^ inch shorter than 4th. The underwing coverts tinged with grey at their 

 extremes. At base of the bill two conspicuous black shields. Breast and 

 uuderparts spotted with round blackish-brown spots. Speculum — Firstly, 

 a band about half an inch white, then a narrow black band. Then a broad 

 dark green band followed by a black band, feathers below edged with white. 

 The outer edge of three of the long secondaries edged with white. The 

 green on the speculum being wider than in the Chinese Duck being on ten 

 feathers while in that species it is on only eight feathers. 



Burmese Grey Duck. — It may be as well to point out the differences 

 between the sexes. The male, besides being larger in size, has the rump and 

 tail coverts both above and below black glossed with green, the female dark- 

 brown only. The male has more white on the secondaries, and breast more 

 boldly spotted with black. Occasionally in old males the bright red feet 

 edged with black. 



I give below a list of the bags made at Tongyi, Tankobin, and Nawngmun 

 (Shwepi) this last Christmas week, made by three different parties. Also 

 the bags of Christmas shoots in 1895, 1896, kindly given me by Major W. 

 H. Whitehead and Mr. E. Gabbett. 



