288 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



less green gloss, in some green gloss hardly apparent ; innermost 

 secondaries sepia edged white and glossed dull olive, one next specu- 

 lum without grey tinge ; greater coverts ash-brown with much 

 narrower white tips ; median and lesser coverts ash-brown, in some 

 narrowly edged greyish or ash-white, more or less suffused with 

 varying amount of dull lavender-grey. This plumage is acquired 

 by complete moult Aug. to Jan. 



Adult female. Summer. — Most body -feathers, down, usually 

 all tail-feathers, some innermost secondaries and coverts (tail- 

 feathers and innermost secondaries are not always moulted) are 

 moulted March to May. Coloration as eclipse, but feathers of crown, 

 and nape plentifully edged buff, feathers of mantle, scapulars back 

 and new innermost secondaries with broad pink-buff fringes, pro- 

 nounced at sides of feathers, not narrowly edged light buff as 

 eclipse ; new upper tail-coverts sepia edged and with irregular pink- 

 buff markings ; flank-feathers as eclipse, but more or less irregularly 

 marked with white or buff ; new tail-feathers sepia with streaks and 

 irregular markings and broad edges of pink-buff. 



Nestling. — Similar to nestling Mallard and Teal but lower 

 line on side of head continued to base of upper mandible, (in some 

 this line is interrupted) and connected just in front of eye with 

 upper line ; light yellowish spot on lores ; belly and vent greyish - 

 yellow instead of cream-yellow. 



Juvenile. Male. — Like eclipse female but easily distinguished 

 by mottled or streaked under-parts, juvenile tail and duller wing- 

 coverts. Upper-parts as adult female but feathers of mantle 

 smaller and buff edges less pronounced ; scapulars narrower, edged 

 cinnamon-buff instead of light buff as are upper tail-coverts ; 

 feathers of back and rump edged pale olive -grey ; rest of head and 

 neck as adult female but streaks narrower ; feathers of upper - 

 breast, sides of body and flanks sepia broadly edged cinnamon-buff ; 

 feathers of rest of breast, belly and vent with ash-brown centres 

 partially concealed by light buff or white tips producing mottled 

 or streaked appearance, streaks most pronounced on belly and 

 vent ; under tail -coverts sepia edged light buff, or white spotted 

 sepia ; tail-feathers sepia edged light buff ; wing as adult male but 

 innermost secondaries and coverts sepia, sometimes tinged olive 

 edged cream or buff, greater coverts usually with narrower white 

 tips, median and lesser coverts duller lavender -grey, some tipped 

 dusky-brown. Female. — As male, but wing like adult female 

 though speculum usually with little or no green gloss ; secondaries 

 with narrower white tips ; wing-coverts sepia or ash-brown, 

 greater coverts with narrower white tips, median and lesser faintly 

 edged ash-white with little or no lavender-grey suffusion. 



First winter and summer. Male. — As adult and when full 

 plumage is assumed only to be distinguished by narrower white 

 tips to greater coverts and duller median and lesser coverts and 

 more worn appearance of wing. The juvenile body-feathers, tail 

 ^apparently in some central pair only) innermost secondaries and 



