172 MALLARD. 



the inner elongated and tapering. Tail short, much rounded, of sixteen 

 acute feathers, of which the four central are recurved. 



Bill greenish-yellow. Iris dark brown. Feet orange-red. Head and 

 upper part of neck deep green, a ring of white about the middle of the 

 neck ; lower part of the neck anteriorly, and fore part of breast, dark 

 brownish-chestnut ; fore part of back light yellowish-brown, tinged with 

 grey ; the rest of the back brownish-black, the rump black, splendent 

 with green and purplish-blue reflections, as are the recurved tail-feathers. 

 Upper surface of wings greyish-brown, the scapulars lighter except their 

 inner webs, and with the anterior dorsal feathers minutely undulated 

 with brown. The speculum on about ten of the secondaries is of brilliant 

 changing purple and green, edged with velvet- black and white, the ante- 

 rior bands of black and white being on the secondary coverts. Breast, 

 sides, and abdomen, very pale grey, minutely undulated with darker ; 

 lower tail-coverts black with blue reflections. 



Length to the end of the tail 24 inches, to the end of the claws 23, to 

 the tips of the wings 22 ; extent of wings 36 ; wing from flexure 10^ ; 

 tail 4^ ; bill 2/5 ; tarsus If ; middle toe 2/5, its claw /g. Weight from 

 ^ to 3 lb. 



Adult Female. Plate CCXXI. Figs. 2. 2. 



Bill black in the middle, dull orange at the extremities and along the 

 edges. Iris as in the male, as are the feet. The general colour of the 

 upper parts is pale yellowish-brown, streaked and spotted with dusky 

 brown. The feathers of the head narrowly streaked, of the back with the 

 margin and a central streak yellowish-brown, the rest dark, of the scapu- 

 lars similar, but with the hght streak on the outer web. The wings are 

 nearly as in the male, the speculum similar, but with less green. The 

 lower parts dull ochre, deeper on the lower neck, and spotted with brown. 



Length 22 inches. Weight from 2 lb. to 2|. 



The Young acquire the full plumage in the course of the first winter. 



