THE SHOVELLER. 213 



Difference of the hen from the cock. 



The first ten or twelve quill feathers are quite 

 brown ; the next in the same row have all their 

 extreme edges of a shining deep green, some of 

 them varied with small white lines; others are 

 green, with white tips, which, when viewed toge- 

 ther, appear like a sort of cross bar upon each 

 wing ; the covert feathers are many of them of a 

 fine blue, others more inclining to an ash colour; 

 the tail is composed of party-coloured feathers, 

 some of the borders entirely white, others on 

 their extreme edges wholly black. The thighs 

 are interspersed with a considerable number of 

 dusky coloured transverse lines; the legs and 

 feet of a fine red, resembling the colour of ver- 

 million; the claws black. 



The hen bears a near resemblance to the cock 

 in the shape of its body, but differs very much 

 in colour ; the wings are pretty much like those 

 of the male, only the colours are more faint, and 

 the shades not near so beautiful. The head, 

 neck, and almost all the rest of the body, both 

 for colour and shape, very much resemble that 

 of the wild duck. The membrane that connects 

 the toes of each of them are serated about the 

 edges, and their feet seem to be considerably 

 less than the generality of the duck kind. 



