THE WHISTLING TEAL. I17 
slightly compressed towards one end. In texture they differ 
much from those of the Black-backed Goose and Goose Teal 
already described. They lack the exquisite smoothness and 
satiny feel of these latter, and instead of the delicate ivory 
white, they are, when fresh, nearly pure white,* becoming no 
doubt yellowish or brownish, and sullied, as incubation proceeds. 
Here and there one may exhibit a slight gloss, but as a rule, 
this is almost entirely wanting. 
In length the eggs vary from 1°72 to 2:0, and in breadth 
from 1'4 to 1°6; but the average of forty-four is 1°86 nearly 
by 1°49. 
THE BIRDS vary a good deal according to age, but not 
apparently according to sex, though the head of the male is 
rather larger and the plumage on it fuller. Speaking merely 
from memory, I should have said that the males were larger, but 
a comparison of a large series of measurements of both sexes in 
the flesh shows that this is not the case. 
Length, 160 to 17°45 ; expanse, 27°25 to 30°3; wing, 70 to 
O47 tall icomvent, 23 to 3°02 tarsus, 1-6 to 1-92: bill’ from 
mape i7 to 2:00), weight, v Ib: to 1 Ib. 4 ozs. 
The irides are deep brown; the eyelids bright yellow to pale 
golden ; the legs and feet generally dark, at times somewhat pale, 
plumbeous blue, often dusky in patches and on the webs, and 
claws blackish ; bill plumbeous to pale dull blue at the base, 
shading to black at the tip, the bill in some having a greater 
extent of plumbeous, in others of black ; the membrane between 
the rami of the lower mandible is generally pinkish, 
THE PLATE only tolerably represents the species, and is 
everywhere too brightly coloured and too orange. In reality 
the wing-coverts are a deep maroon ; the edgings to the feathers 
of the back dingy fulvous chestnut; and the lower breast 
and abdomen a rather light but dull chestnut. The legs of the 
standing bird are unfortunately wrongly drawn. Both legs are 
on the off side, and the tibial portion of the leg, which when the 
bird is thus standing, shows out very conspicuously, on the near 
side, is ignored. There should be more plumbeous at the base 
of the bill. 
The young, when just able to fly, do not differ very much 
from the adult, but are everywhere duller coloured. The 
margins to the feathers of the interscapulary region are 
inconspicuous and dingy fulvous, and the entire lower surface 
a rather pale, dull fulvous brown. 
—— 
* The lining membrane of the egg which is of a delicate salmon pink, gives at 
times a faint rosy tinge to fer fect/y fresh unblown eggs, 
