248 WATER FOWL. 



the greater coverts. Under parts, rosy salmon color, which fades 

 rapidly after death. Tail, a.sh gray. Bill and feet, vermilion; 

 the hook, black. Iris, carmine. Length about 26 inches; wing, 

 10.75; tarsus, i.95;ctdmen, 1.95. 



Female. —Head and neck, reddish brown ; an occipital crest of 

 lengthened feathers of the same color extends along hind neck ; 

 chin and throat, white. Upper parts, ash gray. Primaries, 

 black; terminal half of secondaries, white, forming a speculum or 

 spot on the wing. Flanks, ash. Lower parts, pale salmon color 

 in life; white in preserved skin. Tail, ash gray. Bill, red; cul- 

 men, blackish. Feet, orange ; webs, dusky. Iris, yellow. Aver- 

 age total length, 22^ inches; wing, g^; tarsus, i^; culmen, i-^. 



Distance from nostril to nearest feather on head greater than 

 height of the maxilla at base, in both sexes. 



Downy Young. — Upper parts, hair brown, with four white 

 spots. Half of head above and hind neck, rusty. Upper part of 

 lores crossed by a brown stripe, and a white one on lower part, 

 bordered beneath by a narrow one of brown. Rest of head and 

 neck and entire under parts, white. 



