400 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



and flanks of the female. The eggs are from eight to sixteen in 

 number, twelve being an average clutch. They vary in colour from 

 pale buffish green to greenish buff, are fine and smooth in texture, 

 and with a faint gloss. They measure on an average 2 '3 inches 

 in length by i '6 inch in breadth. Down tufts large and neutral 

 gray with very faint white tips. The female covers her eggs care- 

 fully whenever she leaves them ; and if flushed usually flies close 

 to the ground for some distance, hiding herself as soon as possible. 

 She alone performs the task of incubation, which lasts from twenty- 

 six to twenty-eight days. The drake takes no share whatever in 

 bringing up the brood, only one being reared in the season, and 

 is never seen near the nest. When surprised with her ducklings 

 the female sometimes feigns lameness, and devotedly remains by 

 her brood even in the presence of dogs. Numbers of nests of 

 this Duck may be found close together ; I have seen three within 

 as many yards on one small islet. I have never observed any 

 polygamous tendency in this species. 



Diagnostic Characters.— ^//a^, with the predominating 

 colour of the alar speculum purple. Length, 21 to 24 inches. 

 Original species from which the domestic Duck has descended. 



