GADWALL DUOK—OBAT DUCK. 171 



CHAPTER XVII. 



GADWALL DUCK — GRAY DUCK. 



(^Anas iStreperus.^ 



Adult Male. — BiU nearly as long as the head, deeper 

 than broad at the base, depressed toward the end, the 

 sides parallel, the tip rounded. Head, of moderate size, 

 oblong, compressed. Neck, rather long and slender. 

 Body elongated, slightly depressed. Feet, very short ; 

 tibia bare for about a quarter of an inch ; tarsus, very 

 short, compressed ; plumage dense, soft, blended 

 feathers of the head short, of the occiput and nape 

 little elongated ; of the lower parts glossy, with the 

 extremities of the filaments stiffish. Wings, rather 

 long, a little curved, pointed. Tail, short, rounded, of 

 sixteen strong pointed feathers, of which the middle pair 

 project considerably. 



. Bill, bluish black; iris, reddish hazel; feet, dull 

 orange yeUow ; claws brownish black ; webs dusky , 

 liead, light yellowish red ; the upper part of nape much 

 darker and barred with dusky, the rest dotted with 

 the same. The lower part of the neck, the sides 

 of the body, the fore part of the back, and the outer 

 scapula, undulated with dusky and yellowish white ; 

 the bands much larger and semi-circular on the fore 

 part of the neck and breast ; the latter white, the 

 abdomen faintly and minutely undulated with brownish 



