THE WINTER DUCK. 841 
lata,” from the two white spots which are its most distin- 
guishing characteristics. , 
The wood-cut at the head of this article is mathemat- 
ically reduced from my own original sketch, and it may 
be described as follows : 
Speeijic Characie:.—Head elongated, elevated toward 
the corone ; forehead protruding, feathered one-third 
the length of the bill; bill much elevated along the 
dorsal outline, decurved and flattened toward the tip 7 a 
broad unguis on both mandibles; nostril oval, pervious, 
one-third nearer the tip than the base; both mandibles 
deeply lamellated along the gap. Neck short, stout. 
Body broad, thick, and much depressed; wings short, 
and placed far back; legs stout, situate very far, back, 
scutellate in front, reticullate behind ; tail short, acutely 
ovate; two centre feathers longest. 
Plumage.—Thick, soft, densely compressed, much 
blended, and having an under-stratum of soft, blackish 
down. 
Colors.—Bill, bluish black, without any other tint; 
irides hazel ; legs, in the adult males, dusky crimson, in 
the females dull orange; claws black; webs black and 
grained like morocco leather ; crown of the head, nape 
shoulders, back, upper tail coverts, and tail, sooty black ; 
chin, cheeks, forepart of neck, and upper breast, sleek, 
satiny mouse color. A triangular white spot at the base 
of the upper mandible, extending to the anterior angle 
of the eye; a Jarger, irregular, oblong white spot below 
