THE WOOD-DUCK OR SUMMER DUCK. 203 



maries dull grayish-brown. Most of the latter, 

 with part of their outer web grayish-white, and 

 their inner, toward the tip, darker and glossed 

 with green. Secondary quills tipped with white, 

 the outer webs green, with purple reflections. 

 Those of the inner secondaries and scapulars 

 velvet-black, their inner webs glossed and changing 

 to green. The broad feathers anterior to the 

 wings are white, terminated with black. Breast 

 and abdomen grayish-white. Feathers under the 

 wings yellowish-gray, minutely undulated with 

 black and white bars. Lower wing-coverts and 

 axillar feathers white, barred with grayish-brown. 

 Lower tail-coverts dulL grayish-brown. 



Length to end of tail, 20£ inches ; extent of 

 wings, 28. 



Adult female : The female is considerably 

 smaller, and differs greatly from the male in 

 coloring. The feathers of the head are not elon- 

 gated, but those of the upper part of the neck 

 are slightly so. In other respects the plumage 

 presents nothing very remarkable, and is similar 

 to that of the male. Bill blackish-brown. Feet 

 dusky, tinged with yellow. Upper part of the 

 head dusky, glossed with green. Sides of the 

 head and neck, and the hind part of the latter, 



