'242 J. L. Bordiate : 



a tendency to vermiculation, which is found, but to lesser 

 extent, in the pure Pintail . 



Eclipse Plumage. Light Variety. (PI. x.) 



Differs on the hack from the dark variety in the light bars 

 being* broader and more broken up, so that the feather should 

 really be described as dark brown irregularly peppered with 

 buff, a feature that I have been unable to match on any 

 species, although, having in view the eclipse of the dark 

 variety, this pattern is probably due to a combination of the 

 Spotbill and Pintail characters. The head is the same as in 

 the dark form ; the ring round the neck is present and con- 

 spicuous. Across the chest and at the sides of the shoulders 

 we have — the amount depending on the proportion of chestnut 

 in the full plumage — a subterminal sj^ot of dark brown, 

 margined with buff, on pure white feathers. The underparts 

 are white, except for the vent, which is spotted ; the flank 

 feathers are similar to those of the dark variety, except that 

 the vermiculations are less, and the black spots bolder. 



Ducks. Dark Variety. 



The Duck on the head and upperparts is indistinguishable 

 from the Wild Duck. The feathers -of the chest very closely 

 resemble the same feathers in the eclipse plumage of the 

 " light variety " Drake just described, but the markings are 

 more horseshoe-shaped and may be considered as intermediate 

 between the Pintail and Mallard. The breast is similar to 

 that of the Pintail, but whiter ; the flank feathers in colour 

 and pattern resemble those of the Wild Duck, but the pattern 

 is more distinct and clearly defined — a Pintail feature. 

 Looked at casually from below the bird bears a superficial 

 resemblance to a hen Gradwall. 



Light Variety. 



The back of the Duck of this variety resembles so far as I 

 am aware that of no known pure wild breed, although I have 

 noticed something similar occasionally among tame farmyard 

 Ducks and also in a supposed Shelldrake — Wild Duck hybrid 

 in my possession. Along the whole extent of the back, 

 including mantle, scapulars, rump and upper tail coverts, 

 the centre of each feather is dark brown, those on the rump 



