158 MARBLED DUCK. 



diameter four centimetres and six or seven millemetres^ 

 the smaller tliree centimetres three or four millemetres. 



The adult male has the top of the head and nape, 

 scapularies, back, and upper tail coverts dark clay- 

 brown, marbled with white, the scapularies being 

 broadly bordered with that colour ; the wing coverts 

 the same colour, but only very slightly fringed with 

 white or unicolorous; primaries of a richer brown, the 

 outer web having a bluish tinge, and marked with 

 bluish white near the ends of the outer webs of the 

 first six, contrasting with the dark brown tips of the 

 feathers; secondaries unicolorous clay brown. Throat 

 and cheeks finely-marbled light brown and white; chest 

 and crop, flanks, and under tail coverts barred trans- 

 versely with brown upon a ground which is lighter 

 than the dirty white of the abdomen; tail above light 

 brown, tipped with white, below dirty white. Beak 

 black brown, the nail darker glossy, and much bent 

 downwards, so as to produce a kind of hook; feet and 

 legs black brown; iris brown. 



The female is, according to Temminck, like the male. 

 Its plumage generally brighter; the stria; and brown 

 bands paler, and the white of the abdomen purer. 



My figure is taken from a fine specimen sent me by 

 Mr. Tristram, which came from Alexandria. 



It has also been figured by Bonaparte, Faun. Ital., 

 fiiscic 46, fig. 1, (male,) and fig. 2, (young female;) and 

 by Gould, B. of E., pi. 373. 



