CHAPTER XXVI. 



RED-HEADED DUCK (ANAS FERINA). 



Adult male : Bill as long as the head, deeper 

 than broad at the base ; the margins parallel, 

 slightly dilated towards the end, which is rounded ; 

 the frontal angles rather narrow and pointed. 



Head rather large, compressed, convex above. 

 Eyes small. Neck of moderate length, rather 

 thick. Body full, depressed. Wings small. Feet 

 very short, strong, placed rather far behind ; tar- 

 sus very short, compressed anteriorly with narrow 

 scutella, continuous with those of the middle toe, and 

 having another series commencing half-way down, 

 and continuous with those of the outer toe, the rest 

 reticulated with angular scales ; hind toe small, 

 with an inner expanded margin or web ; middle 

 toe nearly double the length of the tarsus ; outer, 

 a little shorter. Claws small, compressed, that of 

 the first toe very small and curved, of the third 

 toe larger and more expanded than the rest. 



Plumage dense, soft, blended. Feathers of the 



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