PIED DUCK. 331 



very slightly longer than the first, the rest rapidly graduated; secondary 

 quills broad and rounded, the inner elongated and tapering. Tail very short, 

 much rounded, of fourteen tapering feathers. 



Bill with the basal space between the nostrils running into a rounded 

 point in the middle, pale greyish-blue; the sides of the base, and the edges 

 of both mandibles for two-thirds of their length, dull pale orange; the rest 

 of the bill black. Iris reddish-hazel. Feet light greyish-blue, webs and 

 claws dusky. Head and upper half of neck white, excepting an elongated 

 black patch on the top of the head and nape. Below the middle of the neck 

 is a black ring, from the hind part of which proceeds a longitudinal band of 

 the same colour, gradually becoming wider on the back and rump; below 

 the black ring anteriorly is a broad band of white, passing backwards on 

 each side so as to include the scapulars. All the under parts black, except- 

 ing the axillaries and lower wing-coverts. Upper wing-coverts and secon- 

 dary quills white, some of the inner quills with a narrow external black 

 margin; alula, primary coverts, and primary quills, brownish-black. Tail 

 brownish-black, tinged with grey, the shafts black; upper tail-coverts dusky, 

 minutely dotted with reddish-brown. 



Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of claws 22^, to end of wings 184; 

 extent of wings 30; wing from flexure 94; tail 3-| ; bill along the ridge If, 

 along the edge of lower mandible 2|; tarsus 1^; middle toe 2|-, its claw -f; 

 hind toe 4f, its claw ^; outer toe and claw slightly longer than middle; in-~ 

 ner toe 1^, its claw |- 4 . Weight 1 lb. 14^ oz. 



Female. 



The female is less than the male. The bill, iris, and feet are coloured as 

 in the male; sides of the forehead white (not in the figure, it having been 

 taken from a young bird). The general colour is brownish-grey, darker on 

 the head, cheeks, back, rump, and abdomen, of a lighter tint, approaching to 

 ash-grey, on the throat, breast, wing-coverts, and inner secondaries, which 

 are margined externally with black; seven or eight of the secondary quills 

 white; the primaries and tail-feathers as in the male. 



Length to end of tail 184 inches, to end of claws 19|-, to end of wings 

 17; extent of wings 29; wing from flexure 9; tail 3^; bill along the ridge 

 1-|, along the edge of lower mandible 2^-; tarsus 1^; hind toe and claw f ; 

 middle toe and claw 2\. Weight 1 lb. 1 oz. 



