RUDDY DUCK. 329 
Adult Malein summer. Plate CCCXLIII. Fig. 1. 
Bill as long as the head, a little higher than broad at the base, de- 
pressed and widened toward the end, which is rounded. Dorsal out- 
line straight and declinate to the nostrils, then direct and slightly con- 
cave, the sides sloping and concave at the base, broadly convex toward 
the end, the edges soft, with about forty short erect lamelle interna:iy 
on each side, the unguis linear-oblong, suddenly decurved and directed 
backwards, its lower part transversely expanded and serrulate. | Nos- 
trils in an oblong depression covered with skin, medial, rather smail, 
linear-oblong, pervious. Lower mandible flattened, a little recurved, 
its angle very long and narrow, the lamine about a hundred and forty 
and extremely small, the unguis oblong. 
Head rather large, oblong. Eyes of moderate size. Neck short 
and thick. Body full, much depressed. Legs short and placed rather 
far behind ; tibia bare for a short space ; tarsus very short, compressed, 
with an anterior series of small scutella, an outer short series going to 
the fourth toe, the rest reticulated. Hind toe very small, with a free 
inferior web; anterior toes very long, slender, the middle toe double 
the length of the tarsus, the outer almost as long, the inner consider- 
ably shorter, and having a broad lobed margin ; the webs reticulated. 
Claws rather small, slender, compressed, slightly arched, acute. 
Plumage dense, blended, on the upper parts very soft ; on the fore 
part of the head stiffish; on the lower parts with a silky gloss, and 
stiff, having the extremities broad, and the barbs strong and pointed. 
Wings very short, of moderate breadth, concave, pointed ; primaries 
tapering, the first longest, obliquely rounded. ‘Tail short, much gra- 
duated, of ezghteen stiff, narrow feathers, of which the shaft is very 
strong, and runs out in a flattened concave point. 
Bill and edges of eyelids greyish-blue. Iris hazel. Feet dull 
greyish-blue ; webs inclining to dusky; claws greyish-brown. Upper 
part of the head and nape deep bluish-black, that colour running 
to a point about the middle of the neck; a large white patch on each 
side of the head, from the bill to behind the ear, narrowed on the 
throat. Neck all round, and all the upper parts, as well as the sides 
of the rump, rich glossy brownish-red or chestnut; the lower parts 
greyish-white, tinged with brown, and marked with transverse inter- 
rupted bands of dusky. Wing-coverts, quills, and tail-feathers, black- 
ish-brown. 
