On the Hybridising of Ducks. 247 



of Mallard which is apparent, so that it will be convenient to 

 designate them as the "Mallard type " and " Spotbilltype." 



In the Mallard type the feathers of the back (mantle and 

 scapulars) are dark brown, with rather lighter edgings, but 

 those on the anterior portion of the mantle have pale narrow 

 rufous bars. Feathers of the rump dark brown, showing- 

 faint lighter edges, and the four central tail coverts are 

 recurved as in the Mallard. Crown of head from base of 

 culmen black, with light edgings to the feathers, resembling 

 the crown of the head of the Pintail. Metallic green stripe 

 behind the eye meeting its fellow of the opposite side on the 

 nape ; rest of head dull black, grizzled with buff. Chest 

 dark chestnut, with irregular subterminal spots, sometimes 

 forming bars or crescents in some cases indistinguishable 

 from those of a Mallard in eclipse. Remainder of under- 

 parts dull grey with narrow vermiculations of dark brown 

 under tail-coverts, with a tinge of rufous. Bill yellow, dark 

 on culmen. 



In the " Spotbill type " the feathers of the mantle and 

 scapulars are dark brown, edged with buff, the inner 

 secondaries showing a clear, but narrow, white rim, along the 

 edge of the outer vane. The top of the head is nearly black, 

 with a few traces of buff edgings. A light stripe runs on 

 either side from the base of the bill over the eye to the back 

 of the head, and a broad dark stripe runs through the eye 

 from the base of the bill. The cheeks and chin are dull rufous 

 buff, grizzled with darker brown, which tends to form an 

 irregular stripe. There is a white spot on the front of the 

 throat, representing the white ring of the Mallard. The chest 

 is pale buff, each feather having a large dark subterminal 

 spot. The breast is white, the feathers boldly spotted with 

 dark brown, especially on the vent. Under tail-coverts rufous, 

 with a large dark subterminal sj3ot on each feather. Bill 

 greenish, with black along the culmen. 



As will be noted from the above descriptions the chief 

 differences between the two forms lie in the increased amount 

 of Spotbill characters, especially on the underparts in the 

 second form. It is also well to note that the head of the 

 Mallard form is not unlike the head of the Pintail trie-en of 



