372 BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK. 



marginal membrane, the outer with a thickened edge, the third and fourth 

 about equal and longest, all covered above with numerous narrow scutella. 

 Claws small, slightly arched, obtuse, that of first toe very small, of third 

 largest, and with an inner thin edge. 



Plumage dense, soft and blended. Feathers on the fore part of the head 

 very small and rounded, on the upper and hind parts linear and elongated, 

 as they also are on the lateral and hind parts of the upper neck, so that when 

 raised, they give the head an extremely tumid appearance, which is the 

 more marked that the feathers of the neck immediately beneath are short. 

 Wings very small, decurved, pointed; the outer primaries pointed, the first 

 longest, the rest rapidly graduated; the secondaries incurved, obliquely 

 rounded, the inner much elongated and acuminate. Tail short, graduated, 

 of sixteen feathers. 



Bill light greyish-blue. Iris hazel. Feet very pale flesh-colour, claws 

 brownish-black. Fore part of the head of a deep rich green, upper part 

 rich bluish-purple, of which colour also are the elongated feathers on the 

 fore part and sides of the neck, the hind part of the latter deep green; a 

 broad band of pure white from one cheek to the other over the occiput. 

 The coloured parts of the head and neck are splendent and changeable. 

 The rest of the neck, the lower parts, the outer scapulars, and a large patch 

 on the wing, including the greater part of the smaller coverts and some of 

 the secondary coverts and quills, pure white, the scapulars narrowly mar- 

 gined with black, as are the inner lateral feathers. Axillary feathers brown- 

 ish-black, some of them white on the margins and towards the end; lower 

 wing-coverts brownish-black, the smaller tipped with white. The back, 

 inner scapulars, and inner secondary quills, velvet-black. The feathers on 

 the anterior edge of the wing are black, narrowly edged with white; alula, 

 primary coverts, and primary quills, deep black. The feathers on the rump 

 gradually fade into greyish-white, and those of the tail are brownish-grey, 

 with the edges paler, and the shafts dusky. 



Length to end of tail 14^ inches, to end of wings 13f, to end of claws 

 15f ; extent of wings 23; wing from flexure 6§; tail 3^; bill along the ridge 

 1 T 2 2, along the edge of lower mandible Iff; tarsus 1 T 3 2, hind toe and claw 

 T y, outer toe 2 T V, its claw f §; middle toe 2, its claw y|; inner toe and claw 

 l T \. Weight 1 lb. 



Adult Female. 



The female is much smaller. The plumage of the head is not elongated 

 as in the male, but there is a ridge of longish feathers down the occiput and 

 nape. Bill darker than that of the male; feet greyish-blue, with the webs 

 dusky. Head, upper part of neck, hind neck, back and wings, greyish- 

 brown; a short transverse white band from beneath the eye, and a slight. 



