358 VELVET DUCK. 



outer toe a partial series, the rest covered with reticular angular scales. 

 Hind toe small, with a free membrane beneath ; anterior toes double the 

 length of the tarsus, united by reticulated membranes having a sinus on 

 their free margins, the inner with a lobed marginal membrane, the outer 

 with a thick edge, the third and fourth about equal and longest. Claws 

 small, that of first toe very small and curved, of middle toe largest, with 

 a dilated inner edge, of the rest slender, all obtuse. 



Plumage dense, soft, blended. Feathers on the fore part of the head 

 extremely smaU, on the neck velvety. Wings rather short, narrow, 

 pointed ; primary quills curved, strong, tapering and pointed, the first 

 longest, the second very little shorter, the rest rapidly graduated ; se- 

 condary broad and rounded, the inner elongated and tapering. Tail 

 very short, narrow, wedge shaped, of fourteen stiff narrow feathers. 



Basal prominence and sides of the bill black, the sides towards the end 

 bright red, the unguis flesh-colour, with a black line on each side. Iris 

 bright yellow. Feet carmine on the outer side, orange-red on the inner, 

 the webs greyish-black. The general colour of the plumage is brown- 

 ish-black, on the upper parts glossed with blue, lighter on the lower. 

 The outer secondary quills are white, and there is a spot of the same un- 

 der the eye. 



Length to end of tail 22 inches, to end of wings 19|, to end of claws 

 24^ ; extent of wings 39 ; wing from flexure 12 ; tail 3^ ; bill 1^%, along 

 the edge of lower mandible ^^^ ; tarsus 1^1 ; middle toe 3, its claw /j. 

 Weight 3 lb. 10 oz. 



Adult Female. Plate CCXLVII. Fig. 2. 



In the Female the basal prominence of the bill is much less elevated, 

 and the colour of the whole biU is dusky. The iris and feet are as in 

 the Male, but of duller tints. The general colour of the plumage is a 

 sooty brown, the breast and abdomen lighter. There are two whitish spots 

 on each side of the head, one near the base of the upper mandible, the 

 other behind the eye ; the outer secondary quills are white as in the Male. 



Length to end of tail 22 inches, to end of wings 18, to end of claws 

 25^ ; extent of wings 38 ; wing from flexure 11^ ; tail 3| ; bill 1 y'^, along 

 the edge of lower mandible 2/5 ; tarsus 1| ; middle toe 2^§, its claw /j. 

 Weight 3 lb. 3 oz. 



The down of this species is similar to that of the Eider Duck, and 

 apparently of equal quality. 



