ANATIB^E^ANATIN^: RIVER DUCKS. 



697 



Bkoad-bill. Adult (J '■ Bill blackish ; iris orange-red : feet vermilion-red. Head and neck dark 

 glossy green. Lower neck and fore breast pure white. Al)domen purplish-el lestnut. Wing- 

 coverts sky-blue ; speculum rich green, set between white tips of greater coverts, and lilaek sub- 

 tips and white tips of secondaries ; inner secondaries greenish-black, with long white stripe ; 

 long scapulars blue on outer webs, striped with white and greenish-black on inner; short 

 anterior scapulars white. Rump and upper and under tail-coverts black ; a white patch on 

 each side at root of tail. Adult ? : Bill dull greenish ; iris yeUow ; feet orange. Wing- 

 markings similar to those of $, though imperfect: traces of chestnut on belly. Head and 

 neck brownish-yeUow, speckled with dusky. In any plumage the species is of course at once 

 recognized by the peculiar bill. Length 17.00-21.00; extent 30.00-33.00; wing 9.50; tail 

 3.00; bill about 2.70; along commissure 3.00 ; tarsus 1.33. Europe, Asia, etc.; in N. Am. 

 at large, breeding throughout, and wintering in abundance from the middle districts to C. Am. 



Fig. 483. — ShOTeller Duck, J iiat. size. (From Brelim.) 

 Eggs about 8, averaging 2.10 X 1..50, smooth, elliptical, in color dull pale greenish-gray 

 sometimes faintly bluish. In full dress, which is comparatively infrequent, since it character- 

 izes only the breeding season, this is a very smart and jaunty drake, tricked out in parti-color ■ 

 the great majoiity of specimens, however, are found in a plumage more like that of the duck' 

 The bird is among the best of the ducks for the table. 



AIX. (Gr. al^ or Si|, aix or c&x ; application not obvious.) Bridal Ducks. Head crested 

 Bill shorter than head, no longer than tarsus, very high at base, the reiintrances at sides of 

 culmen much prolonged towards the forehead. Nostrils large, oval, set little in advance of the 

 leathers on culmen. Terminal nail occupying the whole end of the bill, and much curved 

 downward. Lamelte small, few, and distant. Tarsus incompletely scutellate in front much 

 shorter than middle toe. Claws compressed, curved, and acute, that of the middle toe 'dilated 

 on inner edge. Tail half as long as wings, rounded, of sixteen rounded feathers, and very 



