CHAPTER XXI. 



DUSKY DUCK (ANAS OBSCUEA). 

 Local name, " Black Duck." 



Adult male : Bill about the length of the 

 head, higher than broad at the base, depressed 

 and widened towards the end, rounded at the tip. 



Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed ; 

 neck rather long and slender. Body full, de- 

 pressed. Feet short, stout, placed a little behind 

 the centre of the body ; legs bare a little above 

 the joint ; tarsus short, a little compressed ; hind 

 toe extremely small. 



Plumage dense, soft, and elastic; on the head 

 and neck the feathers linear-oblong, on the other 

 parts in general broad and rounded. Wings of 

 moderate breadth and length, acute. Tail short, 

 much rounded, of eighteen acute feathers, none of 

 which are reserved. 



Bill yellowish-green ; the unguis dusky. Iris 

 dark-brown. Feet orange-red ; ' the webs dusky. 

 The upper part of the head is glossy brownish- 

 black, the feathers margined with light- brown ; 



