THE RED -CRESTED POCHARD. 311 



projecting ; wing as in adult but innermost secondaries narrower 

 and apparently with more pointed tips. Female. — Apparently as 

 3,dult female, but crest absent ; under-parts and tail as in juvenile 

 male ; wing apparently as in adult female, but only rather worn 

 specimens examined. 



First winter and summer. Male. — As adult winter but under- 

 parts browner, feathers with narrower black tips and narrow white 

 edges. The juvenile body-plumage, tail and innermost secondaries 

 and coverts are moulted from autumn (?) to spring but not rest 

 of wings. Female. — Probably identical with adult female, but no 

 certain example examined. 



Measurements and structure. — £ wing 256-278 mm., tail 58-74, 

 tarsus 40-43, bill from feathers 48-52 (12 measured). $ wing 249- 

 269, bill 44-50. Primaries : 1st narrow, pointed and about half 

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

 4th 9-13 shorter, 5th 21-27 shorter, 6th 39-44 shorter ; 2nd 

 emarginated inner, 3rd outer webs. Innermost secondaries of 

 moderate length, more or less pointed towards tip, longest between 

 5th and 6th primaries. Scapulars moderately long, tips slightly 

 rounded. Tail rounded, 16 feathers. Adult male with a much 

 developed crest. Bill broad and flattened at base, slightly narrowing 

 towards tip, culmen slightly concave beyond anterior corner of 

 nostril, nail considerably decurved ; lamellae of upper mandible 

 projecting. 



Soft parts. — Bill (ad. $) bright vermilion-red, nail flesh pink, 

 (ad. ?), reddish- brown, (juv.) dusky above, brownish below (Hume) ; 

 legs and feet (ad. $) orange-red or vermilion-red, joints, edges of 

 scutes and webs slatish, (ad. $) pinkish, webs black, (juv. $) oliva- 

 ceous-orange ; iris (ad. $) reddish-brown or orange-red, (ad. $) hazel, 

 (juv. g) brown or reddish-brown becoming orange-red or red in 

 spring. 



Characters. — No subspecies. Distinguished in all plumages from 

 other British ducks by white speculum bordered above and below 

 with drab (in $ suffused drab), and uniform drab wing-coverts. 



Field -characters. — Male known at once by crimson bill, golden- 

 bay erectile crest, intensely glossy black under-parts, white wing- 

 bar and white patch on shoulder. Female more soberly coloured, 

 but dull red bill and greyish -white cheeks and throat contrasting 

 with dusky crown are good characters. Like other diving-ducks, 

 rises with difficulty, pattering along surface for some yards and not 

 springing cleanly from water as Mallard and Teal do. Obtains most 

 of its food by diving, but to some extent by grovelling on the bottom 

 with fore -parts submerged and hind-parts tilted vertically after 

 manner of surface -feeders Flies with rapidly whirred wings. Call, 

 hoarse, grating " kur-r-r," similar to that of many diving-ducks. 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds on islands in lagoons, sheltered by 

 bushes ; also in thick rushes or flags in reedy pools. Nest. — Thick 

 bed of down on foundation of dead rushes or water-plants. Eggs. — 



