302 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



(including one next speculum) and coverts, but not rest of wings,, 

 are moulted Sept. to Feb. or March. 



First winter. Female. — As adult female eclipse and apparently 

 not distinguishable except by more worn appearance of median and 

 lesser coverts with narrower buff edges. Moult apparently as in 

 male. First summer. — Like adult summer female but mantle, 

 scapulars, new feathers of back and rump, upper tail-coverts, new 

 tail-feathers and innermost secondaries less richly marked with 

 buff and edges narrower and paler. Most body-feathers, some tail- 

 feathers and innermost secondaries are moulted in spring. 



Measurements and structure. — $ wing 262-280 mm., tail 177- 

 209, tarsus 39-42, bill from feathers 48-53 (12 measured). ? wing 

 242-266, bill 45-50. Primaries : 1st narrow, pointed and more than 

 half longest primary- covert, 3rd longest, 2nd equal or 2-4 mm. 

 shorter, 4th 8-13 shorter, 5th 22-27 shorter, 6th 37-45 shorter ; 

 2nd emarginted inner, 3rd and 4th slightly outer web. Innermost 

 secondaries long and tapering, longest between 5th and 6th primaries, 

 in eclipse broader at tip. Scapulars pointed and tapering, in eclipse 

 shorter and with rounded tips. Tail with 16 feathers tapering to a 

 point, central pair lanceolate and considerably longer than rest, in 

 eclipse broader and less pointed, central pair broadly lanceolated 

 and only slightly exceeding next pair in length. Bill longer than 

 head, narrow, edges nearly parallel, terminal two -thirds of culmen 

 straight and nearly horizontal, basal portion rapidly ascending. 



Soft parts. — Bill (ad. <$) plumbeous -blue, nail, base and strip 

 along culmen black, (ad. $) bluish-horn, (juv.) blackish-grey ; legs 

 and feet (ad. g) greyish, joints darker, webs black, (ad. $ and juv.) 

 greenish -grey ; iris brown. 



Characters and allied eorms. — In A. a. tzitzihoa (N. America) 

 males have speculum broader and when fully adult tail longer. 

 Green speculum and mouse-grey wing-coverts together with long- 

 neck and size distinguish adult and juvenile males from other British 

 ducks ; adult and juvenile females might possibly be confused with 

 young Wigeon and Gadwall but may at once be distinguished by inner 

 secondary next speculum having no white on outer web except at tip. 



Field -characters. — Slender form and elegant carriage — sits very 

 lightly on the water — distinguish female from Mallard duck when 

 swimming. Drake is unmistakable ; white breast, white line down 

 either side of brown neck, and creamy- white spot in front of black 

 under tail-coverts show up at distance too great for elongated tail- 

 feathers, elevated like a boat's bowsprit, to be seen. Long neck, 

 pointed tail and slender form are just as diagnostic in flight, which 

 is very rapid and accomplished by quick beats of narrow, pointed 

 wings. Mainly a winter visitor, frequenting sea-coast and estuaries, 

 where it often consorts with Wigeon, but uncommon on fresh-water 

 far from sea. Call, a low " quack," but is rather silent except in 

 breeding-season when male is loquacious, uttering a musical 

 " quuck, quuck " which has been likened to notes of a violin. 



