182 INDIAN DTCKS. 



tipped wliite and with a line of the same next the quill, inner web bro\\nish-grey ; 

 remaininf:^ inner secondaries gi'ey on the outer webs, black edged with grey on 

 the inner webs. The central rectrices black, the other rect rices grey-brown ; 

 lower tail-coverts black, except the ulterior ones, which are white ; the Hanks 

 next the tail-coverts are white, more or less tinged buff, and w ith vermiculations 

 fainter than those on the rest of the flanks. 



Length about 2G inches, depending on length of tail-feathers, which vary 

 from 4*5 inches to full length, central rectrices 9 inches long ; wing lO'S to ll'o, 

 tarsus 1*5 to 1'75, bill from gape and from front about 2'25. 



" Length of male 22 to 29 inches, tail 5 to 8*5, wing 11, tarsus 1-6, bill from 

 gape 2-25." (Blanfonl.) 



" The drake moults all feathers except the primaries, secondaries, wing-coverts, 

 and six pairs of outer rectrices at the end of June, and assumes plumage very 

 like that of the female, the usual male plumage being resumed by a complete 

 moult in October." (Blanford.) 



"Expanse 32-0 to 37*75 inches, wing 10'3 to 11*75, tail from vent 4-8 to 9*4, 

 tarsus 1-5 to 1-8, bill from gape 2-0 to 2-4. Weight 1 lb. 10 ozs. to 2 lbs. 12 ozs." 

 (Hume.) 



L^ides dark brown, often tinged red ; bill light to dark plumbeous, the culmen, 

 lower mandible, and base darker, almost black. Legs and feet dark plumbeous 

 grey or blackish ; webs, cla\^s, and joints darker. 



" In the adult male the bill is plumbeous, light plumbeous, or lavender- blue, 

 with the entire lower mandible, a broad band along the entire culmen, the angle 

 at the base of the upper mandible, and a strip along the margin of its terminal 

 half black. 



" In some apparently adult males I have noted the feet as brownish-black, 

 blackish-grey, and uniform dusky." (Ifumc.) 



" Legs blue ; irides brown ; bill black, blue at sides.'' ( Vidal.) 

 " Legs very pale yellowish flesh-colour, A'ariegated with shades of purplish- 

 brown, darker tint of last on the nail and web-membranes." (SwinJioe.) 



Female. — Head brownish-buff, with dark centres to the feathers ; throat and 

 chin pale ; neck the same, speckled brown ; upper parts brown, the feathers edged 

 white or buflPy white, and scapulars with a few bars of the same ; the white tips 

 of the greater secondaries and greater coverts form two distinct bars, but there 

 is no speculum ; quills dark brown, the inner ones narrowly edged white and all 

 paler on the inner ^^•ebs ; lower parts dingy white, more or less tinged buff, or 

 even rufous, and streaked and centred brown. 



Irides brown ; bill and legs like the male, but duller, and, as far as I know, the 

 bill never has a blue tinge. I have one female with a distinctly orange tinge to 

 her legs, showing as a sort of mottling on the shanks. 



Length about 20 inches, wing 9*75 to 10*25, tarsus about 1-5, tail about 4 

 to 5*25, bill at front 2*0 to 2*1, from gape about the same. 



" Length 20 to 22*5 inches, wing 9-3 to 10-2, tail from vent 4*2 to 5-5, tarsus 

 1-45 to 1-7, bill from gape 2-1 to 2-35. Weight 1 lb. 2 ozs. to 1 lb. 14 ozs." 

 (Hume.) 



Young male. — Has the wing like that of the adult, but is otherwise coloured 

 like the female. The first male plumage to be assumed is that of the back, which 



