PIED DUCK. 273 
strong, tapering, the second very slightly longer than the first, the rest 
rapidly graduated ; secondary quills broad and rounded, the inner elon- 
gated and tapering. Tail very short, much rounded, of fourteen ta- 
pering feathers. 
Bill with the basal space between the nostrils running into a 
rounded point in the middle, pale greyish-blue ; the sides of the base, 
and the edges of both mandibles for two-thirds of their length, dull pale 
orange; the rest of the bill black. Iris reddish-hazel. Feet light 
greyish-blue, webs and claws dusky. Head and upper half of neck 
white, excepting -an elongated black patch on the top of the head and 
nape. Below the middle of the neck is a black ring, from the hind 
part of which proceeds a longitudinal band of the same colour, gra- 
dually becoming wider on the back and rump; below the black ring 
anteriorly is a broad band of white, passing backwards on each side so 
as to include the scapulars. All the under parts black, excepting the 
axillaries and lower wing-coverts. Upper wing-coverts and secondary 
quills white, some of the inner quills with a narrow external black mar- 
gin; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills, brownish-black. Tail 
brownish-black, tinged with grey, the shafts black ; upper tail-coverts 
dusky, minutely dotted with reddish-brown. 
Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of claws 223, to end of 
wings 1834; extent of wings 30; wing from flexure 94; tail 33; bill 
along the ridge 17, along the edge of lower mandible 22; tarsus 1; 
middle toe 23, its claw 3, hind toe 43, its claw !; outer toe and claw 
slightly longer than middle ; inner toe 14, its claw#. Weight 1b. 144 oz. 
Female. Plate CCCXXXII. Fig. 2. 
The female is less than the male. The bill, iris, and feet are 
coloured as in the male; sides of the forehead white (not in the figure, 
it having been taken from a young bird). The general colour is 
brownish-grey, darker on the head, cheeks, back, rump, and abdomen, 
of a lighter tint approaching to ash-grey, on the throat, breast, wing- 
coverts, and inner secondaries, which are margined externally with 
black ; seven or eight of the secondary quills white ; the primaries and 
tail-feathers as in the male. 
Length to end of tail 184 inches, to end of claws 198, to end of 
wings 17; extent of wings 29; wing from flexure 9; tail 32; bill 
along the ridge 1g, along the edge of lower mandible 23; tarsus 14; 
hind toe and claw 3; middle toe and elaw 23. Weight 1 Ib. 1 oz. 
VOL, IV. :S) 
