THE MADAGASCAR DUCK. 



Observations Description. 



that of the common duck, and is said to be much 

 more pleasant ; they lay a great many eggs, and 

 are excellent breeders; the hen has not the tube- 

 rous flesh growing on her bill, but with respect 

 to colour, is much the same as the cock. 



The ambassador from the duke of Holstein, in 

 his travels to Muscovy, says, he saw there a sort 

 of wild ducks, bigger than ours, but as black 

 as crows, with long necks, and forked bills. They 

 are called by the Muscovites, braclan, and are 

 scarcely ever seen but in the night time : their 

 quills are harder and bigger than those of * 

 crow. 



THE MADAGASCAR DUCK 



IS in size very little larger than the common 

 tame divck, and has a yellowish brown bill ; the 

 circles or irides of the eyes, are red ; the head and 

 neck of a dark green ; the breast and lower parts 

 of the body more inclining to a dusky brown - r 

 the outward edges of the feathers red ; the sca- 

 pular feathers are some of them green, with red 

 edges; others more dusky, with a beautiful bluish 

 mixture ; the first row of the covert feathers are 

 pretty much of the same colour, the second row 

 green; the quill feathers are all beautifully edged 

 with red; the whole mixture of the colours shine 

 with a curious and uncommon gloss, and appear 

 '2 D 2 



