CHAPTER XVII. 



THE WOOD-DUCK OR SUMMER DUCK (ANAS SPONSA). 



Adult male : Bill shorter than the head, 

 deeper than broad at the base, depressed toward 

 the end, slightly narrowed toward the middle of 

 the unguis, the frontal angles prolonged and 

 pointed. 



Head of moderate size. Neck rather long and 

 slender. Body full and depressed. Wings rather 

 small. Feet very short, strong, placed rather 

 far back, tarsus very short, considerably de- 

 pressed. 



Plumage dense, soft, blended, generally glossed. 

 Feathers of the middle of the head and upper 

 part of the hind neck very narrow, elongated, and 

 uncurved ; of the rest of the head_ and upper part of 

 the neck very short; of the back and lower parts in 

 general broad and rounded, excepting on the shoul- 

 ders before the wings, where they are enlarged, 

 very broad, and abrupt. Wings of moderate 

 length, narrow, and acute. Tail of moderate 



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