THE MALLARD. 



Description. 



with small white feathers under the chin. The 

 breast, belly, and throat, are white, with small 

 transverse spots, of a brownish red, running 

 across them. The six first of the prime feathers 

 of the wings are white, the rest of a reddish 

 brown; the first row of covert feathers are blue 

 tipped with white, the second are brown with 

 white tips. The scapular feathers of the wings, 

 the sides, and the back, are of a reddish brown, 

 which appears dusted or speckled over with 

 white. The tail is black, with white tips., which 

 turn up in a sort ot circular curl towards the 

 back. The legs and feet are of a fine orange 

 colour. 



THE MALLARD 



IS about the size of the preceding; its bill, 

 from the angles of the mouth to the tip, is about 

 two inches and a quarter, and near an inch broad, 

 with a roundish tip at the end ; the head and 

 upper part of the neck are of a beautiful shining 

 green; the under eye-lids white, with a sort of 

 half circle, or white ring, that passes round the 

 fore part of the neck ; the under part of the neck 

 below the white ring to the breast, is of a glossy 

 chesnut colour. The under part of the breast 

 and belly are a sort of ash-colour, sprinkled with 

 a variety of dark specks, resembling drops; the 

 back between the wings is of a cinerous red/ ia 



