344 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



it is impossible to separate the moult into 1st winter plumage from 

 that into 1st summer. Like 1st winter but nape, sides of neck,, 

 throat and lower -neck intermixed with black-brown feathers with 

 whitish bases ; new feathers of mantle and scapulars black-brown 

 with dusky-brown bases, some scapulars bordered buff-brown on 

 outer web ; rest of plumage as in 1st winter, wings and tail as 

 juvenile. 



Second winter. Female. — Birds with feathers of upper-mantle 

 with one or both webs at sides more or less pale grey tipped cinna- 

 mon-buff and scapulars with grey not russet edges (some scapulars 

 are shaded russet centrally) may be second winter females, but 

 more material is required to make certain. The same differences 

 apply to a possible second summer plumage. 



Measurements and structure. — £ wing 219-236 mm., tail 199— 

 246, tarsus 32-35, bill from feathers 26-29 (12 measured). $ wing 

 202-210, bill 23-28. Primaries : 1st narrow, pointed and more 

 than half longest primary- covert, 2nd and 3rd usually equal and 

 longest, 2nd sometimes 3-4 mm. shorter, 4th 9-13 shorter, 5th 

 21-30 shorter, 6th 35-45 shorter ; 2nd emarginated inner, 3rd outer 

 webs. Innermost secondaries of moderate length, pointed at tip 

 and shorter than 6th or 7th primary. Scapulars long, tapering 

 to a point, almost reaching 4th primary ; shorter in summer 

 plumage ; short and with square or slightly rounded tips in eclipse. 

 Tail with 14 feathers, in adult $ central pair long and tapering 

 exceeding next pair by 70-130 mm., next pair usually long and 

 tapering but varying in shape and length individually but con- 

 siderably exceeding rest, which are pointed and gradually decrease 

 in length to outermost. Bill small, much shorter than head, about 

 same height and breadth at base, gradually depressed and narrowed 

 towards end, which is rounded ; nail large and decurved ; cutting 

 edge of upper mandible with basal half nearly straight then suddenly 

 rising to nail ; feathering at base of bill forming a nearly straight 

 oblique line advancing furthest forward on fore -head and with 

 hardly any re-entrant angle. 



Soft parts. — Bill (ad. $) basal half black, terminal portion 

 orange -yellow, nail bluish-grey, (ad. §) greyish-black, (juv. <$) blue- 

 grey ; legs and feet (ad. <J) light bluish-grey, webs dusky, claws 

 black, (ad. §) greenish-grey, webs dusky, (juv. <$) pale grey, webs 

 nearly black ; iris (ad. $) bright carmine, (ad. <j>) yellow, (juv. $) 

 brown. 



Characters. — No subspecies. Distinguished in all plumages by 

 small bill and brown speculum. 



Field -characters. — Drake easily identified. Though generally 

 supposed to carry tail erect — i.e. perpendicular — when on surface, 

 have watched many individuals swimming with tail horizontal, and 

 even draggling in water, when quite undisturbed. Plumage of duck 

 varies considerably at all seasons, and may be confused with females 

 of Harlequin and Buff el-head, as explained under those species. 



