496 D U C K. 



Place, This feems to be a mere variety of the common Duck, and 



breeds as well in its tame ftate. Tt feems only to be kept in 

 England out of curiofity ; but we are informed that in fome 

 parts of Germany this fort is full as common, and the breed is 

 encouraged almoft to the exclufion of the laft. Bancroft*, in his 

 Hiftory of Guiana, mentions a Wild Duck, larger than the tame one, 

 and refembling it, except in the bill, which is black, and crooked 

 at the end ; and the feet and legs of an afh-colour. Thefe, he 

 fays, are found in plenty, during the rainy feafons, on the banks 

 of rivers near the fea. 



Other varieties might alfo be mentioned : fuch as, thofe with 

 tufted heads ; others, with fome of the fecond quills turned up- 

 wards, called four-winged Ducks f ; and, not unfrequently, one or 

 two in a brood wanting the webs between the toes, while others 

 of the fame hatching have them complete. 



44- Anas curviroftra, Pall. Stic. vi. p. 33. 



CURVE-BILLED 



C I Z E of the Wild Duck, if not bigger. Bill as in that bird, 



but bent downwards : irides fulvous : general colour of the 



plumage black, but more dull on the quills and under parts : 



the head, neck, and rump, tinged with mining grey : on the 



throat an oval fpot of white : the five outer quills white ; the 



others black -, the exterior fecondary quill margined with white 



on the outer edge at the end ; but the outer margins in general 



have a blue black glofs, forming a fpeculum of that colour on 



* Hiji. Guian. p. 170. 



t See a Coofe of this kind in Gent, Mag. vol. xxv. pi. oppofite iig. 2. 



the 



