ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 6 7 
cover her eggs entirely from view by dispersing the down over 
them, an example which should be imitated when the eggs 
are confided to a hen, whose instinct, on the contrary, is to 
leave her eggs uncovered. The value is from £2 28. to 
45 58. a pair. The following excellent description of the 
Mandarin in full plumage was contributed some time ago by a 
fancier, to the Bazaar newspaper :— 
** Male.—General shape very round; legs short; a crest falls 
gracefully over the back of the head almost touching the back; each wing 
is provided with a beautiful feather called the fan. These characteristics 
give the bird a most quaint appearance. In colour, the head is a rich 
green black, running into a rich red brown in the plume or crest, and 
terminating in a green black; the back is a rich shot colour, the fans, 
which rise over the saddle, of a rich light brown on the inside web, the 
outside black ; under parts are white from the centre of the breast to the 
end of the tail, the top of the breast being a beautiful plum colour, crossed 
by two white and two black stripes on either side. The hackle and 
whiskers are a rich chocolate brown, the feathers being very narrow ; wing 
mossed brown, with white stripes on the shoulders; eye black ; beak red ; 
from the base of the beak runs a white stripe up the side of the head and 
over the eye, where it becomes broader; a similar white mark encircles 
the eye, running off at the back towards the plume; the face is of the 
same colour, but a much lighter shade than the hackle ; feet dull yellow. 
‘* Female,—General appearance, mottled gray and brown ; upper 
breast spotted with lighter colour; white line over upper mandible 
extending down front of throat; head ashy-grey ; small soft crest ; black 
eye encircled by a white line extending to the back of the head; bill and 
legs same as male.” 
Male.—Summer plumage : crest, wing-fans, and whiskers 
absent ; breast and sides mottled grey and brown ; shoulders 
and wings greenish-brown ; head and neck light grey; under- 
parts white ; bill pinkish-horn colour ; legs yellow. 
Female.—Summer plumage: duller in tint and crest 
less flowing. 
Young.—Pale brown down; cheeks white; dark stripe 
from back of eye to head; bill dusky-yellow; eye black; feet 
and legs ash colour ; breast and abdomen dirty-white. 
